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An elderly motorist who crashed into a cyclist and killed her while sneezing has escaped a jail term.

Great granddad Leonard Pigram, 77, pleaded guilty to causing the death of Valerie Reed, 55, by driving a Range Rover carelessly.

The incident happened in Swepstone Road, near Heather, in north west Leicestershire, at 11am on Sunday May 29, 2016.

What the judge said

Judge Philip Head said: “There was a total failure to slow down or manoeuvre sufficiently to give her a proper wide berth.

“She was amply visible for a substantial distance and for whatever reason he failed to drive his car in a way that was appropriate or prudent.”

Sentencing, the judge told Pigram: “Nothing that I or anyone else can say can restore the precious life that has been lost by your actions or can comfort those who grieve for Valerie Reed.

“My sentence doesn’t, in any way, equate to value of that lost life.

“I’ve read a deeply moving victim personal statement from Shaun Reed, of the tragic and lasting impact it had on him, her only son, and her family.”

‘I intended to pull out to overtake, but I sneezed’

(Image: Google Maps)

The judge said that Pigram initially claimed that he had pulled out and was overtaking Ms Reed when a sudden sneeze caused him to deviate back to the nearside of the road.

However, that was disproved by accident investigators.

The defendant then accepted he had not pulled out.

The judge quoted Pigram’s basis of plea: “I saw the cyclist travelling in the same direction and cars coming towards me.

“A car went by me on the opposite side of the road.

“I intended to pull out to overtake, but I sneezed before I began to overtake and (the next thing he knew was) the bike was on my bumper.”

‘I accept you’re deeply and thoroughly remorseful’

(Image: Mike Sewell)

The judge said: “The deceased would have been visible for not less than 125 metres ahead and the defendant said he did see her but cannot say how far ahead or how soon that was before the accident.

“The defendant at no point moved away from close to the nearside of the verge position, because of oncoming traffic.

“He at no stage slowed down to any appreciative degree.

“He approached her in a line that, if continued, would strike her and he must have got so close that, if he did sneeze, the momentary episode must have happened at the point of impact.”

Judge Head also told Pigram: “Since you retired 10 years ago you’ve volunteered five days a week to help those less fortunate than you – handicapped children and adults and you have positive character references.

“I accept you’re deeply and thoroughly remorseful.

“How is the public interest best served?

“There is a minimal to non-existent chance of you reoffending.

“You are to be banned from driving for five years, but that’s theoretical given the medical revocation of your licence.

“Your voluntary work over the last 10 years has spoken loudly for you.”