Driver admits causing death of cyclist

Cyclist Richard Bower's "life was of infinite value", the judge told the court

A man has admitted causing death by dangerous driving after he veered onto the wrong side of the road and hit a cyclist.

Long Wan, 33, of Beckenham, London, struck Richard Bower on Rivelin Valley Road, Sheffield, on 29 September 2023.

Mr Bower, 55, was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries and died three weeks later on 22 October.

Wan was granted unconditional bail at Sheffield Crown Court on Tuesday ahead of his sentencing at the same court on 25 February.

The Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, said he had made no decision yet but an immediate prison sentence could be "on the agenda".

"A man has lost his life because of your driving, your very bad driving," he told Wan.

"Any sentence I pass in no way reflects the value of the life of the deceased. His life was of infinite value."

'Desperately upsetting'

Mr Bower's relatives observed proceedings from the public gallery.

Mr Ian Goldsach, prosecuting, said the cyclist had been "almost in the gutter" on his side of the road and there was "nothing he could have done" to avoid the Mazda.

Wan had found it "desperately upsetting" that he could not find an explanation for what happened, said Mr Chris Aspinall, defending.

"The motorist behind him said, up to the point of him wandering to the other side of road, he was driving with no deviation from a good driver standard," he added.

Listen to highlights from South 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.