'My partner was killed by a joy-rider while I was pregnant with our unborn son'

Gemma Yates thought her future was all mapped out.

Eight weeks pregnant and very much in love, she and partner Callum Steadman were looking forward to starting a family. But on December 1, 2017, Gemma's life came crashing down in the cruellest of circumstances.

As he crossed the road in north Manchester to go to the shop, Callum was mown down by a joy rider in a stolen BMW. As he lay dying in the street the driver, Kayden Wallbank, fled the scene.

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"My life was just shattered in the blink of an eye," said Gemma. "The only thing that kept me going was the fact I was carrying my baby.

"But it was so tough. I had my share of bad days."

Gemma and Callum, known as Spud, met at Asda in Eastlands where they both worked. Gemma had found out found she was pregnant just a few weeks earlier and said Callum was 'over the moon' at the news.

On the day of his death Callum, who was celebrating his 28th birthday, and Gemma had excitedly discussed prams they might buy and where their unborn child would go to school. But tragically he never got to meet his son, named Callum Jnr in his memory.

"I feel numb and heartbroken that our child will never get to meet Callum," Gemma later told a court. "He would have been a brilliant dad."

The following year Wallbank, who knew Callum having lived on the same estate in Harpurhey, was hauled before the courts. The convicted car thief admitted causing death by dangerous driving, failing to stop after an accident, handling stolen goods and having no driving licence or insurance.

Manchester Crown Court heard the 22-year-old, of Blackley, had bought the BMW for £200 and knew it was stolen. When he hit Callum he was doing 60mph in a 20mph zone, and despite pleas from his two passengers refused to stop.

He spent four nights holed up in a hotel in Cheetham Hill, before he was eventually tracked down and arrested.

Jailing him for seven years Judge Patrick Field told him: "In that brief and terrible moment you deprived Callum of his life, his parents of a son, his partner of Callum’s love and compassion and you deprived his unborn son of a father."

But remarkably in the depths of her grief, Gemma, of Droylsden, found the strength and the courage to rebuild her life. After working at Asda for 19 years, she handed her notice in when her hours were changed to include late night shifts, which as a single mum-of-three she wasn't able to do.

Using YouTube videos she began teaching herself how to create 'permanent jewellery', a TikTok trend that's becoming increasingly popular having being adopted by various fashion influencers. Then in March this year she set up her own business, Hello Sunshine, and opened a market stall in Hyde, before moving into premises at Eden Studio in Ashton-under-Lyne.

Gemma, 41, admits going it alone has been 'scary', but says it was something she needed to do for herself and her three boys, aged 15, 13 and six.

"My mindset just completely changed after losing Callum," she said. "I realised I needed to follow my dreams and find my purpose, because life is just too short.

"It took a lot of strength and courage and to be honest I completely surprised myself. I would never have thought 10 years ago that I could be the person I am today.

"It's surprising what grief can do. But Callum would be so proud of me. He would have been behind me all the way."