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news
Shrewsbury Crown Court (UK Gov)Speeding driver who screamed at cyclist after hitting and leaving him with life-changing injuries spared jail
A speeding driver who drove straight into a cyclist in Shrewsbury and then got out of the car, shouted swear words at him and accused him of being at fault, has been spared jail but disqualified from driving for 18 months.
The collision has left Edward Cooper with serious and life-changing injuries, rendering him unable to do activities like riding a bike or surf. He's even facing difficulties playing with his daughter.
Cooper, a teacher at Shrewsbury College and an experienced cyclist, was cycling back home around 5:30PM in December last year. Tyler Maddox, 27, of Shrewsbury was driving his white Audi A3 on a road parallel to Sundorne Road when he hit Cooper.
Maddox had driven into Cooper as he travelled towards him, throwing the cyclist onto the bonnet, before he rolled underneath the bumper.
The prosecutor told the court that witnesses had described Maddox as going over the 30mph speed limit – with the Judge accepting that he was travelling at around 40mph. Maddox had slowed the vehicle as the collision took place but added that the bike was thrown three metres into the air.
He told the court that Maddox had then gotten out of the car and shouted "What the f*** are you playing at" to the stricken cyclist.
Police examinations of Maddox's vehicle found its stopping distance could have been affected because its tyres were under inflated, one had insufficient tread depth, while the windscreen had a large sun strip, which officers were concerned would have limited the view, the Shropshire Star reports.
It's not sure when, or if Cooper will be able to make a full recovery. As of now, he has only been able to return to work for six hours a week — an experience which he said leaves him drained. Besides, he is no longer able to surf or cycle, and has difficulties in playing with his young daughter.
The inability to work had also cost him thousands of pounds in wages, with Cooper saying that he was worried about his financial stability in the future as a result of his injury.
The mitigator for Maddox said that his client faced a momentary lapse in concentration, adding: "He has reflected on it and I will say from the outset he is genuinely remorseful for what happened.
"He is someone who in this situation unfortunately made an error of judgement that brings him before the court and he has to accept his part in that, and the implications for Mr Cooper.
"I would suggest he was somewhat immature in his actions on the day in question but I would suggest he has grown up since, quite significantly."
The mitigator then urged the Judge to suspend the sentence, saying: "He is someone genuinely petrified at the prospect of going into custody."
> Motorist banned for six months after leaving cyclist with multiple fractures and bruised lungs in “momentary lapse of concentration”
The Judge concluded that Maddox was driving "too fast for the conditions", and that Cooper was riding his bike quite properly the other way along that road, and "was wearing proper reflective gear and that included a top, and had his lights on".
"Your first reaction when that happened was to get out of your car and shout at him," the judge said, adding that in the subsequent interviews with police and probation officers, Maddox was still claiming it was his [Cooper's] fault.
The Judge concluded that the incident had not been deliberate and that Maddox "does not pose a danger to the public and has a realistic prospect of rehabilitation".
He said: "I have reached the view, on balance, with all these factors, yours is a case I do not have to impose an immediate custodial sentence."
Maddox was sentenced to four months in prison suspended for 18 months.
He will have to complete 10 rehabilitation requirement days, 150 hours of unpaid work, and pay £535 costs. He was also disqualified from driving for 18 months, backdated to include an interim disqualification on August 16.
Adwitiya joined road.cc in 2023 as a news writer after graduating with a masters in journalism from Cardiff University. His dissertation focused on active travel, which soon threw him into the deep end of covering everything related to the two-wheeled tool, and now cycling is as big a part of his life as guitars and football. He has previously covered local and national politics for Voice Wales, and also likes to writes about science, tech and the environment, if he can find the time. Living right next to the Taff trail in the Welsh capital, you can find him trying to tackle the brutal climbs in the valleys.
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76 comments
This in my opinion is a very strange decision bt tbe judge? It appears it could well be a case of dangerous driving? The driver of the cars reaction at the scene cannot be dismissed either, Yes it could have been shock but this seems a lenient sentence as the cyclist was not at fault in any way.
That he has life changing injuries too do not appear to have been taken into accont? I may well be wrong but the sentence was derisory
4 month suspended sentence and 150 hrs community work? Plus it should have been a 2 year ban for this individual offense if you read the circumstances in my personal opinion.
Not to mention the car was not in a satisfactory condition. Was that a momentary lapse of judgement, or the fact he was still speeding after slowing down, or the fact that he is a typical young ignorant white Audi driver who has no respect for anything or anyone but himself? This is absolutely disgusting. It should be appealed.
Are airline pilots allowed to have momentary lapses in concentration?
They only get one...
Not so much allowed, as tolerated as long as it doesn't actually kill anyone, and if you fully and freely confess, the idea being that they learn from their mistakes rather than hiding them.
Throw the book at him. Make an example of him to make him and others learn!
I appreciate the sentiment, but longer prison sentences aren't going to get us towards Vision Zero (more effective traffic policing would definitely be a good start). This case does sound like a prison sentence is appropriate though due to his behaviour towards his victim and it should definitely be a driving ban of at least ten years or so as a matter of public safety.
No but we are all human beings, but his reaction after the incident are reprehensible
New Rule:
If anyone involved in a road collison is driving a White Audi A3 they are automatically culpable for the incident. This is due to most people who drive white Audi A3s as an accident waiting to happen.
Only exception to this rule is if the other vehicle involved is a Vauxhall Corsa with a body kit. In which case all around can rejoice that 2 of the gits have been taken off the streets.
I can't make sense of the description of the collision. Was he driving on the wrong side of the road and hit the cyclist head-on?
If it's where I think it is (the only road I'd describe as parallel to Sundorne Road), it's a relatively narrow strip in front of a row of houses. I've ridden along there a good number of times. [street view]
If that's the location of the incident then there is absolutely no reason to drive along there except to access one of the houses. Doing 30 mph or more would be really dangerous. And people wonder why we campaign for a 20 mph limit in urban areas...
Chances are the arrogant Audi driver pulled out to go around one of the parked cars and refused to slow down for the oncoming cyclist. It would not be a "momentary lapse in concentration", as claimed by the defence, it would be deliberate.
An 18 month driving ban for someone like Tyler Maddox is pathetic. It should be 5 years minimum and that fucker needs to learn to walk places. Or maybe ride a bike.
I'm confused as to how he hit him on the wrong side of the road and how this amounts to a lack of concentration.
Or did he turn out of a junction into him?
Just another example of the war on hard working motorists.
Read the previous post! There is a difference between hard working motorists and scumbags who have no disregard for the law or anyone more vulnerable than themselves.
How, how, how can he not be jailed for such an appalling example of driving and uncaring attitude.
Didn't you listen. He is very very caring and remorseful. His lawyer said so and they are a very trustworthy bunch.
"The mitigator for Maddox said that his client faced a momentary lapse in concentration......." Gosh, that's all right then, never heard of that before.
"He has reflected on it and I will say from the outset he is genuinely remorseful for what happened." Honestly he is. Very, very remorseful.
"The mitigator then urged the Judge to suspend the sentence, saying: "He is someone genuinely petrified at the prospect of going into custody."" So don't break the law multiple times, don't hit and severely injure an innocent victim and don't blame them for your gross incompetence.
I'm left wondering exactly who Tyler Maddox knows.
Many years ago I was involved with firearms (target shooting, former international no less!), if you had a "momentary lapse in concentration" and shot someone you could bet you'd lose your gun licence for life as a first step let alone the further sanctions, why is it that a "momentary lapse" in the arguably much more dangerous pursuit of driving a ton of lethal metal on the road at high speed doesn't incur the same?
This '' momentary lapse in concentration'' seems to have become the de facto line of defence these days. Absolutely ridiculous.
But it wasn't a "monentary" lapse. The vision-restricting ornamentation across the windscreen, the under inflated tyres, the (presumably) illegally low tread depth, and indeed the ongoing affirmation to exceed the speed limit - none of these was momentary. By saying it was a momentary lapse is to deny all of the factors leading up to the collision. If the perpetrator is in denial why should he be excused time in prison, at least until he can accept the truth?
Yes I totally agree, but this line is put forward more and more as if to say forget everything else, it was merely a lapse in concentration. Could happen to anyone. And then they usually end up with a slap on the wrist.
I think that's the problem. The judges are all motorists, and are thinking 'there but for the grace of god go I' so don't impose a very tough sentence.
Yes, I keep reading it, too.
Almost as common as 'exceptional hardship'.
Exceptional hardship = mild inconvenience
Aren't life changing injuries and exceptional hardship? Paying for your crimes is justice.
Unless you are a motorist.
One of Sunak's soldiers...
I still don't understand why people voted for Sunak
HS2 TrainStopping
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOJHz3pU7mI
They didn't. The tory party voted for Truss. Tory MPs voted for Sunak, and given the choice, who can blame them?
Better than Captain Crasharoonie Snoozefest, aka the Human Bollard
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