Lorry driver who caused death of Denbighshire cyclist has driving ban reduced

The lorry driver involved in a fatal collision with Jane Greaves in Denbighshire last November has had his five-year driving ban reduced to 15 months, reports the Daily Post. Judge David Hale, sitting at an appeal at Mold Crown Court, said it was clear that magistrates had got the sentence wrong.

John Dedman hit Greaves at a crossroads on the B5428 near Trefnant, at a notorious accident blackspot. After pleading guilty to causing death by careless driving, he was initially handed a five-year driving ban and placed on a community order for three months.

However, Judge Hale said that the magistrates had not worked according to sentencing guidelines. He added that the devastation for the family was the same whether it was someone drunk driving at 90mph in a stolen car or an accident where no one was at fault. He therefore said that a victim impact statement from Greaves’ sister could have no bearing on the ban, which he reduced to 15 months. Further penalties for Dedman – a community order in which he is to be electronically tagged for a 7pm-7am curfew and £145 costs – will remain in place.

The court had heard how Dedman’s lorry approached the crossroads at 3mph before hitting Greaves at about 11mph. A van driver is said to have heard Greaves shout, “Hey, hey,” as the lorry began to cross her path. It is said that she applied her brakes to try and avoid the collision, but the position of the lorry left her with no room to manoeuvre and she later died in hospital in Stoke on Trent.

Over a thousand people have signed a petition calling for safety improvements to be made to the junction where Greaves was killed. Jonathan Walker, who posted the petition, says that particular attention is required to significantly slow traffic on the Lower Denbigh Road and ensure that traffic entering the junction from the B5428 is brought to a stop.