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| Jailed Edward Howell Adams ran down Paralympian Simon Richardson | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A drunk driver who ploughed into and critically injured a Paralympic champion cyclist who was out training for the 2012 Games, has been jailed. | A drunk driver who ploughed into and critically injured a Paralympic champion cyclist who was out training for the 2012 Games, has been jailed. |
| Farmer Edward Howell Adams was found guilty of dangerous driving after knocking Simon Richardson into the air on the A48 near Bridgend last August. | Farmer Edward Howell Adams was found guilty of dangerous driving after knocking Simon Richardson into the air on the A48 near Bridgend last August. |
| Adams, 60, of Cowbridge, was jailed for 18 months at Cardiff Crown Court. | Adams, 60, of Cowbridge, was jailed for 18 months at Cardiff Crown Court. |
| Richardson, 44, who won two gold medals and a silver in Beijing, is out of the London 2012 Games because of the crash. | |
| The Paralympian, who has fought back to be fit enough to play a part as a Paralympic torch bearer, was in court for the sentencing on Thursday. | The Paralympian, who has fought back to be fit enough to play a part as a Paralympic torch bearer, was in court for the sentencing on Thursday. |
| 'Significant health issues' | |
| In a statement released after the hearing, he said: "I have some significant health issues to still overcome following the collision, including further back surgery and long term recovery where my complete effort must be. | |
| "I fully intend to battle my way back to elite competitive sport when I am fully recuperated." | |
| He added that his life was "now all about moving on," and said he respected the sentence imposed on Adams. | |
| "My objective throughout the case was to ensure that other cyclists who may be severely injured in collisions in the future, have a legal precedent upon which to base prosecutions against dangerous drivers," he said. | |
| Adams was jailed for 15 months with three more months added on for failing to stop. He was also banned for five years. | |
| His trial heard that he had been drinking the night before the crash and had drunk his first whisky at 6am when he woke up that morning. | |
| A witness described seeing Richardson being thrown in to air as he was struck by Adam's van. | |
| Adams did not stop and later attempted to hide his Peugeot van at his farm, the court heard, but it was located by a police helicopter. | |
| It had damage to a wing and windscreen. | |
| 'Sneezing and sunlight' | |
| Judge Daniel Williams said Adams had shown limited empathy for Mr Richardson, none of the courage and dignity displayed by him. | |
| He said: "You first got into the car at 8.45am that morning and when you were breathalysed just after midday you were more than twice the legal drink drive limit. | |
| "Mr Richardson was clearly visible - cycling close to the kerb and wearing bright clothing. | |
| "Your claims that you were affected by sneezing and sunlight were wholly untrue. | |
| "Your reaction to the accident and its aftermath could not be in greater contrast with the man that you had left injured. | |
| "You took the opportunity to leave the scene - knowing you had caused the accident." |