At the sentencing hearing a prison term of 18 months was handed down for the cyclist with no brakes who collided with a pedestrian. The case has provoked a huge amount of public debate. And now that Charlie Alliston has been jailed, the verdict and custodial sentence may have long-lasting implications.
Cyclist Charlie Alliston jailed for 18 months
A cyclist with no brakes who fatally injured a woman after she stepped into the road has been jailed for 18 months.
Charlie Alliston, who was 18 years old when he hit Kim Briggs, was told by the trial judge he was an accident waiting to happen.
Judge Wendy Joseph QC at the Old Bailey told Alliston at the sentencing hearing he had shown no remorse.
“You have throughout sought to put your blame on her,” she said.
“Perhaps one of the most shocking things about this case is that you could not, and apparently cannot, still see any fault in your cycling or judgment.
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“You chose to ride at a speed and on a bike which you could not stop. Your attitude being that everyone else would just have to get out of your way.
“Of course you did not set out to cause the harm you did. But the jury have found that you were aware of the risks and went on to take them.”
She added: “If your bicycle had a front-wheel brake you could have stopped, but on this illegal bike, you could not.
“On your own evidence by this stage you weren’t even trying to slow or stop. You expected her to get out of your way.”
Kim Briggs, the mother of two and HR consultant, who lost her life in the incident.
Alliston pleaded not guilty at the Old Bailey to causing bodily harm by “wanton and furious driving”. And he also pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter of the mother of two.
He was cleared on the manslaughter charged but convicted on the other, less serious, count.
The former cycle courier was riding a carbon fibre track bike with no brakes when the collision occurred two years ago.
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His trial, at the Old Bailey in London last month, was told the track bike he was on was illegal on the road unless modified as it had no brakes.
Jurors at the trial were also told the bike was a carbon fibre model track machine similar to those used by Team GB track stars.
The dead woman (above), a mother of two and HR consultant, was crossing Old Street, east London, on February 12th, 2016, when fatally injured.
Alliston was riding down the street and shouted at Ms Briggs to get out of his way.
However, he said she froze in his path. The pair collided and their heads banged off each other.
Ms Briggs suffered catastrophic head injuries and died in hospital a week later.
Alliston’s trial, which began last week, was told the collision generated media coverage at the time.
And when Alliston saw an article he took to the internet to post messages about the incident.
He left a comment on a news article claiming Ms Briggs ignored him when he shouted at her to get out of the way.
“I feel bad due to the seriousness of her injuries but I can put my hands up and say this is not my fault,” he said.
He then posted other comments on a message board for fixed wheel enthusiasts.
Charlie Alliston said he warned Ms Briggs just before he hit her to “get the f*** outta my way”.
He said of the incident: “We collided pretty hard, our heads hit together. Hers went into the floor and ricocheted into mine.
“It is a pretty serious incident so I won’t bother saying oh she deserved it, it’s her fault. Yes it is her fault but no she did not deserve it.
“Hopefully, it is a lesson learned on her behalf, it shouldn’t have happened like it did but what more can I say.
“Everyone is quick to judge and help the so-called victim but not the other person in the situation, ie me.
“It all happened so fast and even at a slow speed there was nothing I could do. I just wish people would stop making judgments.
“It’s not my fault people either think they are invincible or have zero respect for cyclists.”
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