Man who killed cyclist in hit-and-run jailed

Anthony Smith was found fatally injured in Ling Road, Loughborough

A man who killed a cyclist and tried to get rid of evidence has been jailed.

On 7 July 2023, 47-year-old Anthony Smith was found fatally injured in Ling Road, Loughborough in Leicestershire.

Jonathan Knight had driven his damaged Audi away and later set it ablaze but was traced thanks to witnesses and forensic evidence, police said.

Knight, 31, was found guilty of multiple driving offences and perverting the course of justice and was sentenced to 14 years in prison.

At Leicester Crown Court on Wednesday, Knight, of Beacon Road, Loughborough, was found guilty of causing death by driving without due care or consideration when under the influence of drugs, causing death by driving while unlicensed, causing death by driving while uninsured, driving a motor vehicle dangerously and perverting the course of justice.

As well as the jail sentence, he was also disqualified from driving for 13 years and eight months.

Police said several witnesses saw a damaged silver Audi S3 being driven along Ling Road, Browns Lane and Beacon Road.

The windscreen was so badly damaged, they said, the driver had to put his head of the driver's side window to see where he was going.

Pieces of windscreen glass on Jonathan Knight's clothes were key evidence, police said

Soon after the Audi was found burning nearby and the vehicle was traced to Knight.

Windscreen fragments from Mr Smith and Knight's clothing were also shown to have come from the car, officers said.

Signals from Knight's mobile phone also placed him at the time and place of the fatal crash.

Det Con Paul Hicks said: "We had no witness to the actual collision which from the start made the case more challenging and gave it an added level of complexity.

"However, through some detailed detective work and excellent forensic evidence, we were able to place Knight as the driver of the vehicle, which hit and sadly killed Tony.

"Given the clear attempts to destroy any possible evidence by abandoning and setting the car alight, Knight was additionally charged with perverting the course of justice, another offence which strengthened the overwhelming case against him."

A 40-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman who were previously arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender and perverting the course of justice were released with no further action.