A 28-year-old man who died after a car smashed into a tree was driving at speeds of up to 90 miles per hour and was not wearing his seat belt during the crash, an inquest heard.
Nicholas Sharples, known as Nick, died after a white Audi A1 he had been driving collided with a tree on Bramhall Moor Lane at the junction with Dean Moor Road in Hazel Grove, Stockport.
Emergency services raced to the scene after passing police officers discovered the aftermath of the crash at around 2.20am on May 22 this year.
Mr Sharples was taken to hospital but sadly died a few hours later.
An inquest into his death was held at Stockport Coroners Court today (December 7).
The hearing was told how the unemployed factory worker was driving at speeds of around '82 to 90 miles per hour' when he tried to navigate a bend on a residential street and crashed into a tree.
He had alcohol and drugs in his system and was not wearing a seat belt, the inquest heard.
The white Audi A1 he was driving belonged to someone else and he was not insured and or licensed to drive it.
Sergeant Matthew Picton from Greater Manchester Police's Serious Collision Investigation Unit told the hearing how Mr Sharples had driven past a police vehicle before the collision.
But the car was not pursued by officers and police came across the crash a short time later.
"The area where the collision happened is a residential area with a 30 miles per hour speed limit", Sgt Picton told the inquest.
"When the collision happened it was dark and there was no rain falling, however there had been rain throughout the day evening which means that that road surface was still damp.
"The Audi was not registered to Mr Sharples and he was not insured or permitted to drive it.
"The vehicle was relatively new and no defects were found. It was in very good condition.
"Evidence that was readily available from police vehicle CCTV was reviewed and at no point was he pursued."
Sgt Picton also told the hearing how the front seat belts had been fastened in to stop the car from beeping but there was no evidence that Mr Sharples had been wearing it.
He had obtained the car keys for the Audi after a friend was asked by the owner to park it outside her house while she went to a gathering.
The friend left the key under the car wheel then Mr Sharples 'voluntarily' took it and drove it away minutes before the collision.
Experts carried out a reconstruction after the collision and found that the car had left the carriageway on the near side before striking the 'mature tree trunk'.
"We were able to ascertain grossly excessive speed", Sgt Picton added.
"The speed was placed between 82 and 90 miles per hour."
After the crash, Mr Sharples was rushed to Manchester Royal Infirmary in an ambulance. Despite the best efforts of medics, he sadly passed away later that morning.
In a statement read to the inquest, Dr Kirstin Ballantyne - a consultant who treated Mr Sharples - said it was 'unfair and unjust' to prolong his death.
The medical cause of Mr Sharples' death was recorded as a head injury. He also suffered spine, chest and abdominal injuries.
A toxicology report showed that there was alcohol, cannabis and a cocaine metabolite in his system when he died.
Recording a conclusion of a road traffic accident, coroner Chris Morris said: "This is a very sad case involving the unfortunate death of a very young man.
"All of the evidence before this court suggests that on the night of May 22 this year, Mr Sharples voluntarily chose to drive a white Audi A1 vehicle he found he had access to.
"He was not technically permitted to drive that nor was he insured or licensed to do so.
"He suffered devastating injuries when the car he was driving collided with a tree and he was taken to Manchester Royal Infirmary where it was confirmed those injuries were unsurvivable.
"He died on May 22, 2020, as a consequence of traumatic injury sustained in a single road traffic collision".
After his death, Mr Sharples' friends paid tribute to him describing him as a 'good man' who would 'do anything for anyone'.
Diionne Barry who had recently started seeing Nick told the Manchester Evening News : "He had a heart of gold and would have done anything for anyone.
"I’m going to miss him so much."
Friend Clayton Walsh described Nick, who was a devoted Manchester City fan, as a "good man, a good friend and a true champion."
Dozens of football shirts, scarves and floral tributes were left at the scene following the collision.
Mr Sharples' family did not attend the inquest hearing today.
