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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| GB cyclist Simon Richardson: Crash driver Adams jailed | GB cyclist Simon Richardson: Crash driver Adams jailed |
| (1 day 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. |
| Edward Adams was convicted of dangerous driving after he hit Simon Richardson, sending him 26m (85ft) along the A48 near Bridgend last August. | |
| The Cowbridge farmer was jailed for 18 months at Cardiff Crown Court. | The Cowbridge farmer was jailed for 18 months at Cardiff Crown Court. |
| Mr Richardson, who won two gold medals and a silver in Beijing, is out of the London 2012 Games because of the crash. | Mr Richardson, who won two gold medals and a silver in Beijing, is out of the London 2012 Games because of the crash. |
| The cyclist, 44, 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 cyclist, 44, 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. |
| 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. | 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." | "I fully intend to battle my way back to elite competitive sport when I am fully recuperated." |
| A father-of-two, he added that his life was "now all about moving on". | A father-of-two, he added that his life was "now all about moving on". |
| "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. | "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, 60, was jailed for 15 months for dangerous driving with three more months added on for failing to stop. A further three-month term for driving with excess alcohol will run alongside the sentence. | |
| He was also banned from driving for five years. | He was also banned from driving for five years. |
| His trial heard that he had been drinking the night before the crash and drank his first whisky at 6am when he woke up. | His trial heard that he had been drinking the night before the crash and drank his first whisky at 6am when he woke up. |
| A witness described seeing Mr Richardson being thrown into the air as he was struck by Adams' van on the A48, a road known locally as Crack Hill. | A witness described seeing Mr Richardson being thrown into the air as he was struck by Adams' van on the A48, a road known locally as Crack Hill. |
| Adams stopped briefly, but drove off after he noticed another motorist had stopped to offer Mr Richardson assistance. | Adams stopped briefly, but drove off after he noticed another motorist had stopped to offer Mr Richardson assistance. |
| 'Instinctive lies' | 'Instinctive lies' |
| Adams later attempted to hide his Peugeot van at his farm, but it was located by a police helicopter. It had damage to a wing and windscreen. | Adams later attempted to hide his Peugeot van at his farm, but it was located by a police helicopter. It had damage to a wing and windscreen. |
| Judge Daniel Williams said Adams had shown limited empathy for Mr Richardson, and none of the courage and dignity displayed by him. | Judge Daniel Williams said Adams had shown limited empathy for Mr Richardson, and none of the courage and dignity displayed by him. |
| He described Adams' version of events during his trial as "instinctive lies". | He described Adams' version of events during his trial as "instinctive lies". |
| 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. | 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. | "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 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. | "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." | "You took the opportunity to leave the scene - knowing you had caused the accident." |
| Mr Richardson, who this week lit the cauldron outside Cardiff's City Hall to mark the arrival of the Paralympic flame, and took part in the torch relay in London, said: "I am happy in a way with the sentence. | Mr Richardson, who this week lit the cauldron outside Cardiff's City Hall to mark the arrival of the Paralympic flame, and took part in the torch relay in London, said: "I am happy in a way with the sentence. |
| "I would have been happy whatever sentence he got - even if he walked free. | "I would have been happy whatever sentence he got - even if he walked free. |
| "At the end of the day, it was just an accident and he did not deliberately set out to knock me down. | "At the end of the day, it was just an accident and he did not deliberately set out to knock me down. |
| "But it is important that a precedent has been set - that not only should a person be charged with excess alcohol but it also qualifies as dangerous driving. | "But it is important that a precedent has been set - that not only should a person be charged with excess alcohol but it also qualifies as dangerous driving. |
| "I hope this incident shows the need for drivers to be more aware of cyclists on the road." | "I hope this incident shows the need for drivers to be more aware of cyclists on the road." |