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A motorist who accidentally killed an 83-year-old cyclist returned to the scene of the crime and pretended to be an innocent bystander.

Despite causing fatal injuries to his victim Stephen Shaw, 51, left the scene before the emergency services arrived and later denied being involved.

But a witness had taken down the registration plate of his Vauxhall Corsa and the tragic incident was also captured on CCTV.

Shaw was due to stand trial today, accused of causing the death of John Dykes by careless driving, but at the last minute he pleaded guilty.

(Image: Liverpool Echo)

Ian Whitehouse, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court that the accident happened at around 1.50pm on February 9 last year on Crow Lane East in Newton-le-Willows.

Mr Dykes was travelling along Cross Lane towards traffic lights at a crossroads on his electronically assisted pedal cycle and stopped by the cycle box.

He was to the left side of the box, a safe place for cyclists, and Shaw also stopped at the red lights with Mr Dykes slightly ahead and to his left.

Mr Whitehouse said: “The defendant pulled away at the same time as Mr Dykes but the prosecution say the defendant failed to afford priority and sufficient time and space to the victim and thus prevented him from manoeuvring, positioning and indicating his intentions to other road users.

“Both vehicles as a result came together and the collision took place in the centre of the road. Mr Dykes fell to the floor and smashed his head with some force. He was not wearing a cycle helmet and he received a severe head injury.

“He lost consciousness and unfortunately never regained it. He died on February 16 and the cause of death was severe blunt force head trauma.”

Shaw drove off into the oncoming lane of traffic in Belvedere Road before eventually stopping and returning to the scene on foot. He did not speak to anyone or ask about the victim’s condition and left before the emergency services arrived.

Police went to his home at 4pm that day and he denied all knowledge, claiming he had been at home all day. But when the CCTV was mentioned he accepted his involvement.

(Image: Liverpool Echo)

When interviewed Shaw, of Maritime Close, Newton-le-Willows said he panicked when he saw the blood and Mr Dykes in the road and when the police arrived at his home.

In an impact statement the Mr Dyke’s daughter Sandra Woods said his death had a devastating impact on the whole family, particularly as they had not had the chance to say goodbye.

She said: “He was a loving husband, father-in-law, grandfather and great-grandfather. His sudden and unexpected loss has impacted on generations of the family. He was known for being kind-hearted and generous.”

He had been a keen cyclist for 70 years, she added.

Michael Hagerty, defending, said that Shaw “offers to the family his most profound apologies”.

Sentencing him to 24 weeks imprisonment suspended for 18 months Judge Clement Goldstone, QC, said that the 83-year-old victim was a great-grandfather who “lived life to the full”.

He added: “He was passionate about cycling and while indulging his passion, albeit with a little electrical assistance to which he was well entitled at his age, he met his death. It was caused by your carelessness in the way in which you drove your car when you had both been waiting for the lights to change.

“Quite simply, being aware of him and having seen him, you failed to give him a sufficiently wide berth when he turned effectively across your path from the cycling box.”

The judge said that afterwards Shaw returned to the scene “as if you were a complete by-stander.”

He had shown remorse by his guilty pleas to failing to stop and failing to report the accident but it was only at the “59th minute of the 11th hour” that he admitted the manner of his driving.

Judge Goldstone told Shaw that the public interest did not require him to be sent to jail immediately and instead suspended the sentence. He ordered him to carry out 20 day rehabilitation activities and pay £500 towards the prosecution costs within six months, suggesting he could sell his car.

He also imposed a curfew with electronic tag between 7pm - 7am for 12 weeks. He said: “That is meant to infringe your liberty and it is to remind you, if reminder is needed, how close you came to a sentence which would have resulted in you going to prison immediately.”