Cyclist who killed mother-of-two jailed for 18 months

Charlie Alliston, then 18, was travelling at 18mph on a fixed-wheel track bike with no front brakes before he crashed into 44-year-old Kim Briggs as she crossed Old Street in east London, in February last year.

Following a trial at the Old Bailey, Alliston was cleared of manslaughter but found guilty of causing bodily harm by “wanton and furious driving”.

Sentencing at the Old Bailey Judge Wendy Joseph QC said: “I am satisfied in some part it was this so-called thrill that motivated you to ride without a front brake shouting and swearing at pedestrians to get out of the way.

“I’ve heard your evidence and I have no doubt that even now you remain obstinately sure of yourself and your own abilities.

“I have no doubt you are wrong in this.

“You were an accident waiting to happen.

“The victim could have been any pedestrian.

“It was in fact Mrs Kim Briggs.”

The judge said Alliston’s “whole manner of driving” caused the accident.

“If you bicycle had a front wheel brake you could have stopped but on this illegal bike you could not and on your evidence, by this stage, you were not even trying to slow or stop.

“You expected her to get out of the way.”