A Penrith man has been jailed for 12 months for causing the death of an e-bike rider by careless driving.

The News and Star reports that 71-year-old Andrew Lanham was driving a Ford Focus along the single track C3031 between Matterdale and Greystoke on February 28 last year when he approached a group of riders travelling in the same direction.

He overtook two female cyclists, one of whom had to pull off the road to let him past. He then sounded his horn "four to five times" before attempting to pass Frank Lee, an 81-year-old who was riding an electric bike.

Another cyclist told police that Lee did not deviate from his line, but was knocked off as Lanham passed.

Lanham told Carlisle Crown Court that he thought it was safe to overtake, but accepted in evidence: "I think it was an error of judgement."

Lee received basic life support at the scene and was taken to hospital. He died on September 14 2017 from complications resulting from multiple serious collision injuries.

Lanham denied causing death by dangerous driving and causing death by careless driving. He was cleared of the former charge but convicted of the latter.

As well as the jail sentence, Mr Justice William Davis also imposed an 18-month driving ban.

He told Lanham: "You took a risk. You overtook those cyclists one by one when you were driving far too close to them."

Davis said that despite Lanham’s previous good character and unblemished driving record, the jail term should be immediate and not suspended, "so that people know what happens when you take a risk by passing a cyclist".