Taxi driver sentenced over headteacher's death

Jeremy Richardson was a much-loved and respected headteacher

A taxi driver who caused the death of a “highly respected” headteacher in a crash as he cycled to work has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Jeremy Richardson, 61, died when he was knocked off his bike by 60-year-old Fiaz Hussain in Barkerend Road, Bradford, in June 2022.

Mr Hussain, of Barkerend Road, was originally charged with causing death by dangerous driving but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of causing death by careless driving.

Hussain, who was sentenced at Bradford Crown Court, said he had not been able to see Mr Richardson coming downhill towards him because he was “blinded by the sun”.

'Talented and thoughtful'

Prosecutor James Lake said Mr Richardson, who was headteacher at Beckfoot Thornton School, had, crashed into Hussain’s Mercedes Vito vehicle after the driver had pulled out in front of him, despite it being "unsafe to do so".

He told the court that after the collision Hussain had stopped at the scene and called an ambulance as other members of the public performed CPR on the injured cyclist.

In a series of victim impact statements read out in court, Mr Richardson’s family described the devastating impact of his sudden death.

His wife, Amanda, said she had received hundreds of messages from his colleagues and students, past and present, telling her what a difference he had made to their lives..

“He was a talented and thoughtful teacher who always brought out the best in others,” she said.

She said he was committed to working in communities that were often overlooked and had a track record of improving every school in which he had a leading role.

Barrister Rodney Ferm, for Hussain, said it had been “a tragic failure” to see the approaching cyclist.

He said his client, who is married with two children, had worked as a taxi driver since 1990 with an impeccable driving record, but had now lost his employment.

Sentencing Hussain, Judge Jonathan Gibson accepted he had shown remorse for his offending and said after balancing all the submissions put forward he had concluded that a six-month prison sentence could be suspended for 12 months.

Hussain will have to complete 80 hours unpaid work and attend 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.