Court places curfew order on pensioner who killed cyclist
A pensioner who killed a cyclist after failing to see him in the road has been sentenced to a four-month curfew order and been banned from driving.
Chichester Magistrates Court heard Anthony Edwin Emery, 75, could not explain how he failed to see Laurie Pither on his bicycle as he made a right turn at a road junction.
Mr Pither, 72, was cycling across the junction of Downs Road with West Stoke Road when Emery drove in front of his path without seeing him.
The accident happened on April 6 when Emery had been to Petersfield from his home in Alexandra Road, Chichester, to release some pigeons.
Mr Pither, of Orchard Road, Havant, was surveying a route for a cycle race for Hampshire Road Club's time trials just a few hours later.
Emery, a retired builder, was driving his Vauxhall Corsa on his way home when he turned into West Stoke Road, but failed to see Mr Pither cycling in the opposite direction.
Chairman of the magistrates Alan Price said: "We have taken into account your exemplary driving record, your personal record, your personal circumstances and your early guilty plea.
"It is a serious offence. We feel it is appropriate there should be a community order."
He was sentenced to a four-month community order which means he will be under curfew from 9pm until 7am. He was also disqualified from driving and ordered to pay costs of 87.
Defence Kate Rowe said: "He will never be able to understand why he did not see the cyclist. Unfortunately it had tragic consequences, and he has said to the police that he will never ever drive again."
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Friday 25 May 2012
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