A Polish van driver who admitted causing the death of a popular Chester cyclist by careless driving has been jailed for 12 months this afternoon (Friday, October 2).
Damian Niepieklo, 22, who followed the proceedings with the aid of an interpreter, was also banned from driving for two years.
He was told by Judge Rhys Rowlands that the victim, Alan Desmond Cronin, 60, was there to be seen but for some reason he had not done so.
“This was an accident which should never have happened," he said.
The defendant was originally charged with causing the death of Mr Cronin by dangerous driving and that was dropped by the prosecution.
He denied failing to stop and failing to report the accident, claiming he had thought he had hit a branch, but he was convicted by local magistrates.
The charges arise following the fatal accident involving the defendant’s Fiat Ducato van and cyclist Mr Cronin, 60, on the A483 northbound carriageway near the Rossett fly-over on June 11 this year.
Mr Cronin, of Guilden Sutton, died of his injuries.
“This is an accident which should never have happened, and one which could so easily have been avoided if you had been paying proper attention,” said the judge.
