Family of Peterborough chorister '˜serving a life sentence of grief' as driver who killed cyclist is jailed

James Trickey was just 22-years-old when he was killed in a head on collision with a car as he was cycling on Storey’s Bar Road, Peterborough at about 7am on December 23 2014. He was hit by a Renault Clio being driven by Robert Maddiss.

Mr Trickey was declared dead at the scene following the crash.

On Friday Maddiss (30) of Chaplins Close, Coates, was jailed for two years after pleading guilty to causing the death by dangerous driving.

The court was filled with relatives of both Mr Trickey and Madiss, and there were tears on both sides of the courtroom as he was led away to start his sentence.

In a statement from Susan Trickey, Mr Trickey’s mother, the court was told his family were still suffering now - and said she would have ‘gladly died in his place’ if she could have.

The statement said: “The grief and loss has been beyond words, and for us, losing our precious son is a life sentence, there will never be a day without thinking of him and grieving for him.”

Charles Snelling, prosecuting, told the court the crash happened when it was still dark, and the road was unlit. He said: “The defendant was travelling from the east, and Mr Trickey was travelling in the opposite direction. The car cut across a sharp corner, and collided head on.

“It is accepted the car was on the wrong side of the road, and the cyclist was on the correct position.

“There is no evidence of speeding at the time, but it was noted by his work that he was running late at the time, and the crown say he was distracted by that.”

Mr Snelling added Mr Trickey was wearing a high visibility vest, a helmet and other appropriate cycling equipment. He said there were no defects found on either the car or the bicycle.

Mrs Trickey said she hoped the sentence would act as a warning to other motorists to help prevent other deaths.

She said: “My only hope is that other precious lives are not lost in this careless way. I hope that this case might be a warning for drivers to be more careful on our roads, and not to take risks. To slow down, never cut corners, and to always be aware that there may be a cyclist or pedestrian around any corner.”

The court heard Maddiss was a HGV driver, and had no previous convictions. His driving licence was clean.

Defending, Mauro Maselli, said: “Mr Maddiss is a family man, he is the sole bread-winner for his partner and two young children.”

But Judge Gareth Hawkesworth, sentencing, said: “With this piece of dangerous driving you deprived the world of an extremely talented and much loved young man.”

He said that while nothing he could do could bring Mr Trickey back, he hoped the sentence would allow some closure for the family.