Driver avoids prison after hitting a cyclist with his car.
Raymond Treharne was driving in the early morning when he hit cyclist, David Jones.
A Jeep driver walked free from court today after killing a father-of-two when he crashed his car into the cyclist.
Raymond Treharne, 74, was driving his Grand Cherokee Jeep in the early morning when he hit cyclist David Jones on his daily fitness regime.
Mr Jones, 41, was hit at 5.50 am before he died at the scene from a serious head injury in May 2020.
A court heard there was no evidence driver Treharne had applied his brakes or swerved before the crash on the A48 in Bridgend, South Wales.
Witnesses said Treharne was "in shock" following the smash as he told them: "I hit him. He was standing on the bike, he fell into the road."
But forensic collision investigators ruled Mr Jones was fixed to his bike at the time and had not fallen from a static position.
Prosecutor James Wilson said: "He failed to properly observe the road ahead. If he had, he would have seen Mr Jones and would have been able to avoid the collision, either by braking or swerving."
Passerby Richard Mortimore was driving in the opposite carriageway and was level with the Jeep when it hit Mr Jones.
He said he looked in his rear-view mirror to see Mr Jones being thrown up into the air and above the Jeep.
Mr Mortimore pulled over to Mr Jones lying on his front with no movement and blood coming from his head.
The court heard paramedics tried to save him but he was pronounced dead at the scene at 6.21 am.
A cause of death was given as blunt head injury and distraction injury of the neck.
In a victim impact statement, the cyclist's father Tony Jones said Treharne had left the family with "pain, sorrow and a lifetime of grief."
He said: "Where were you looking? How could you not see my son riding his bike?
"He did nothing wrong. In fact he was doing everything right. How didn't you see him?"
Mr Jones said his son had his "whole life ahead of him" running a business, developing his home and bringing up two young children.
He added: "All you had to do was just look. Just look forward and see Davey and go around him."
Treharne gave a negative alcohol and blood test.
A report by forensic collision investigator PC Carlo Vaquerizo said there was no evidence of braking and it was "entirely avoidable".
Treharne, of Kenfig Hill, Bridgend, was found guilty by a jury of causing death by careless driving following a trial.
Judge Catherine Richards handed him a 36-week sentence suspended for one year at Swansea Crown Court.
She said: "I'm sure that for a period of about seven seconds Mr Jones will have been visible to you had you been paying proper attention."
Treharne was also banned from driving for seven years and handed an electronic curfew between 5pm and 6am for six months.
He must take an extended driving test before using a vehicle.
The family paid tribute to Mr Jones following his death and said: "To us he was just one of those people who was so down to earth and always first to offer help to anyone.
"Everybody who knew him just got on with him as he always had smile on his face. He was such a hard worker and never let anything get him down."
His family said he was out cycling at the time as part of his "fitness regime" before he started work.
"He was a father of two beautiful young children who are both now heartbroken with the loss of their Dad. He worshipped both his parents and was adored by all of his family."