Footballer jailed for causing cyclist’s death

A professional footballer who caused a cyclist’s death in a West Yorkshire crash has been given a 14-month prison sentence.

In March 2022, Adrian Daniel, 33, was killed close to Huddersfield when a Mercedes G350 driver Lucas Akins was driving hit him.

After previously pleading guilty to causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving, the League One player, 36, of Heys Road in Thongsbridge, Holmfirth, was imprisoned at Leeds Crown Court.

He was a wonderful father, son, and husband, and living life to the full will always be his legacy, Daniel continued.

On March 17, Mr. Daniel from Meltham, who was cycling home from work along Huddersfield Road in Netherton, struck Mr. Akins’ vehicle as the football player sped off in front of him from the intersection with Crosland Factory Lane.

The court was informed that Mr. Daniel had chosen a suitable position in the middle of the lane and that he had not exceeded the speed limit on his bike when the collision occurred.

Akins, who played for Mansfield in a League One game on Monday, did not check his left or right before pulling out, according to Judge Alex Menary.

The Grenada international was given a 12-month driving ban, but he showed no emotion as he was sentenced.

Mansfield Town expressed its condolences to Adrian Daniel’s family in a statement.

The club continued, “The club is considering its position with regard to Lucas and will not be making any further comments.”

Akins was criticized by Mrs. Daniel for not entering a guilty plea at the first instance, but she defended him.

We don’t need this to cause any more deaths.

Tim Pole apologised for Akins while defending.

He said, “For the rest of his life, he will bear the burden that he caused the death of Mr. Daniel,” adding that this is still a burden he will bear.

Judge Menary acknowledged Akins’ defensible mitigation, but he disagreed, saying that “immediate custody cannot be the appropriate punishment.”

He claimed that while acknowledging Akins’s genuine remorse, his inability to acknowledge guilt sooner had already prolonged Mrs. Daniel’s “heartache and grief.”

Mrs. Daniel criticized “the farce Akins has made of the justice system” in a statement released shortly after sentencing.

She said, “This could have been resolved sooner, and that would have added insult to injury.”