A Porsche driver has been jailed today after causing the death of a cyclist on the A168 near Boroughbridge.
James Bryan, 37, was rushing to get some shopping for his parents on May 10, 2020, when his Porsche Carrera 911 ploughed into the back of a bicycle ridden by married father-of-two Andrew Jackson, 36, York Crown Court heard.
Bryan was found not guilty of causing death by dangerous driving after a trial in September. However, he admitted causing death by careless driving.
He appeared for sentencing at York Crown Court this morning, where he was jailed for nine months.
‘Distracted by something’
During the trial, which began last month, prosecutor Anne Richardson alleged that in the moments before the crash at Allerton Park, Mr Bryan must have been distracted by “something” because Mr Jackson was clearly visible.
She claimed that evidence showed he must have been looking at, scrolling through, or reading posts on social media.
Mr Bryan had taken cocaine and been drinking at his friend’s house in Cheshire the night before the fatal collision at Rabbit Hill Park.
A roadside test in the aftermath of the crash showed that although he wasn’t over the limit for either drink or drugs, there were traces of cocaine, or a cocaine breakdown product, in his system.
Ms Richardson claimed that Bryan, who celebrated his 35th birthday just two days before the accident, would have been impaired by the drugs in his system and from being hungover and tired from the alcohol and festivities the night before.
He was on his way to drop off some groceries at his parents’ house who were isolating during the covid lockdown when the accident occurred at about 1.40pm.
Read more:
- Harrogate Porsche driver who killed cyclist was ‘scrolling’ through social media
- Harrogate Porsche driver who killed cyclist not guilty of dangerous driving’
Bryan, of St Mary’s Avenue, Harrogate, was arrested and charged with causing death by dangerous driving. He denied the allegation but admitted causing death by careless driving in that he didn’t leave enough room to drive around the bicycle.
Defence barrister Sophia Dower claimed that Bryan was in a “fit and proper state” to drive and was not using his phone at the time of the crash.
She claimed Mr Jackson’s bike had veered right from the edge of the road into the path of Mr Bryan’s black Porsche, and that her client “didn’t have enough time to react”.
The off-duty doctor who was at the scene said Mr Jackson had suffered a serious head injury and his helmet was broken.
Police knock ‘changed our lives forever’
Andrew Jackson
During the sentencing hearing today, a victim impact statement from Mr Jackson’s father, Paul Jackson, was read in court.
Mr Jackson said he and his wife, Ruth, can remember the knock on the door from police which he said “changed our lives forever”.
He said:
“He was only 36 years old when he was killed. He was in the prime of his life.”
Mr Jackson added that he and his wife “found it difficult to express how the loss has affected us”.
Mr Jackson’s wife, Jenny, told the court today Andrew was her “best friend and team mate” and that it was “so hard not having him around”.
She said:
“My children should be growing up to know what it feels like to be hugged by their father.”
In mitigation, Bryan’s defence said the defendant had expressed remorse and had suffered from “fragile mental health”.
Ms Dower said he had suffered from depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder since the crash.
She said:
“If Mr Bryan could turn back the clock, he would do it in a heartbeat.
“Whatever sentence this court imposes today, we all know that Mr Bryan is going to have to live the rest of his life knowing that his careless driving killed Mr Jackson.”
Sentencing Bryan, Judge Simon Hickey said that Mr Jackson was “there to be seen” and not at fault for the collision.
Judge Hickey said a combination of tiredness and “interaction with a device” led to Bryan hitting Mr Jackson.
He said:
“That is why you hit Mr Jackson from behind.
“No blame is attached to him… because of your inattention he could have been avoided.”
Bryan was jailed for nine months, of which he will serve half before being released.
He was also disqualified for two years and ordered to pass an extended driving test before being allowed to drive again.
