The motorist who claimed that dazzling sunlight caused the collision that resulted in the death of David Cox in Kent has been found guilty of causing death by careless driving, reports Kent Online. Dean Thomas, who was found to have traces of cocaine in his body, was handed a three-year jail sentence and banned from driving for four-and-a-half years.

71-year-old Cox was hit on a roundabout on Old Thanet Way in Herne Bay on January 28, 2018. He suffered serious head injuries and died at London’s King’s College Hospital 12 days later.

Canterbury Crown Court was shown dash cam footage from a witness’s vehicle which showed Thomas entering the roundabout without stopping.

In a police interview, the driver said that the sun had hindered visibility and that the road appeared clear. Forensic investigator PC Youngs said that this was not the case and that lighting conditions could in fact have meant that the cyclist was “more detectable”.

Youngs also said that the car’s A-frame could cause a blind spot and Thomas’s defence barrister said Cox was in this position for “three crucial seconds”.

“But the jury decided that you were to blame,” said Judge Catherine Brown. “You approached this roundabout at 21mph and didn’t slow down or stop.

“You did not see this cycle and you claimed you were blinded by the sun. But you drove into the roundabout far too fast without giving yourself the chance to check it was safe to enter.”

After sentencing, investigating officer PC Natalie Rowley commented: “A series of bad and selfish decisions made by Dean Thomas has caused a family to lose their father and grandfather. It’s a fact he will have to face, that he is responsible for causing that.

“Lives have been ruined, and I hope it serves as a lesson to anyone who is considering mixing drugs and driving, or driving when they know they are too tired to give their full focus to the road ahead. My thoughts are with Mr Cox’s family and I thank them for their support in this case.”