AN ELDERLY motorist who admitted causing a fatal crash that killed a father of three has been handed a suspended sentence.

Cyclist Andrew Barnett, 43, who died as a result of the collision on the A35 near Charmouth, was described as ‘an amazing and loving husband and loving father’.

The heartfelt family tribute was heard at the sentencing hearing of Derek John Richards at Dorchester Crown Court.

Richards, aged 82, had admitted charges of causing death by careless driving and driving without a licence.

The court was told Mr Barnett was on holiday in the area with his wife and three young children and was cycling along the A35 west of Charmouth roundabout in the direction of Axminster where they were staying when the fatal collision occurred at around 3.30pm on Saturday, August 2 last year.

Prosecutor Carolyn Branford-Wood said that Richards was driving his Nissan Almera car in the same direction and a collision investigator’s report concluded that the impact by Richards’ vehicle was to the rear wheel of Mr Barnett’s bicycle.

She said: “As a result of the impact Mr Barnett was projected into the air and the Nissan continued past underneath him before coming to a halt.”

Miss Branford-Wood added that witnesses to the collision saw no braking or avoiding action taken by Richards immediately prior to the impact.

Richards, of Wesley Close, Charmouth, was reported to have said at the scene: “He came out of nowhere, I didn’t see him.”

When he came to be interviewed by police the defendant told officers: “Before you actually start the interview I want to say this is a dreadful experience and I’m dreadfully sorry it’s happened.”

In a victim impact statement Mr Barnett’s wife explained the ‘devastating’ impact of her husband’s death on her and her children, aged seven, five and three.

She described how one of her children had said ‘nothing has been good since daddy died’ and she added ‘everything is so much harder now’.

The court was told that Richards had not applied to renew his driving licence, as he was required to do because of his age, but he claimed he had simply forgotten and his doctor had confirmed he was medically fit to drive.

Lee Christmas, mitigating, said his client was full of remorse for the consequences of his actions on the day in question.

He said: “He is someone who is devastated by what has happened and he is struggling to come to terms with it.

“He knows it is his fault.”

Judge Douglas Field sentenced Richards to six months in prison, suspended for 12 months.

He also disqualified him from driving for five years and ordered that he take a retest if he is ever to drive again once the disqualification is over.

BEFORE he sentenced Richards, Judge Douglas Field addressed Mr Barnett’s wife to express his sympathies to her.

He said: “I read your victim impact statement and it is heartbreaking.

“I’m very conscious that whatever I say or do in this sentencing exercise will not reconcile you with your grief at the loss of this devoted husband and father.”

Judge Field also told the defendant: “His widow has had to live with the consequences of this every day, coping on her own with these young children.

“I acknowledge that you are also full of remorse.

“This is a classic case where everyone intimately involved in this incident has had the most appalling experiences and it’s my difficult task to pass the proper sentence for you.”