Two years in jail for driver who was "running late" when he killed cyclist

A motorist who was said to be “running late” for work when he crossed onto the wrong side of the road and struck and killed a cyclist in Peterborough has been jailed for two years.

James Trickey, 22, a professional chorister at Peterborough Cathedral, a geography graduate from the University of Oxford which he attended on a choral scholarship, died at the scene of the crash which happened at 7am on 23 December 2014.

The driver involved, Robert Maddiss, aged 30 and from Coates, Cambridgeshire, pleaded guilty at Peterborough Crown Court to causing death by dangerous driving, reports Express.co.uk.

Maddiss, a lorry driver, had been heading to work in his Renault Clio when the fatal collision happened, the court was told. The road was not lit and it was dark, but Charles Snelling, acting for the prosecution, said Mr Trickey was wearing a hi-viz vest.

“The defendant was travelling from the east, and Mr Trickey was travelling in the opposite direction,” he said. “The car cut across a sharp corner, and collided head on.

“It is accepted the car was on the wrong side of the road, and the cyclist was on the correct position.

“There is no evidence of speeding at the time, but it was noted by his work that he was running late at the time, and the crown say he was distracted by that.”

Speaking in mitigation for Maddiss, Mauro Maselli told the court his client had no prior convictions and an unblemished driving record.

He said: “Mr Maddiss is a family man, he is the sole bread-winner for his partner and two young children.”

Sentencing Maddiss to two years’ imprisonment, Judge Gareth Hawkesworth commented: “With this piece of dangerous driving you deprived the world of an extremely talented and much loved young man.”

In a statement read out to the court, Susan Trickey, the victim’s mother, said: “The grief and loss has been beyond words, and for us, losing our precious son is a life sentence, there will never be a day without thinking of him and grieving for him.”

She continued: “My only hope is that other precious lives are not lost in this careless way.

"I hope that this case might be a warning for drivers to be more careful on our roads, and not to take risks.

“To slow down, never cut corners, and to always be aware that there may be a cyclist or pedestrian around any corner.

“James was such a treasure and no one will ever replace him,” Mrs Trickey added.