MAN GUILTY OF MANSLAUGHTER OVER CYCLIST'S DEATH

A man has been found guilty of the manslaughter a cyclist who died after being hit by a van.

Nineteen-year-old Sheldon Lewcock died on 9 August 2022, five days after the crash in Tilehurst, Berkshire.

Van driver Ryan Willicombe, also 19, was found guilty of his manslaughter, but was cleared of murder.

Mr Lewcock's mother Angela said the verdict was "very disappointing" - adding it was not what she was expecting.

She said: "I'm not really happy with the manslaughter [verdict], but we are here now and I just want to let my son be laid to rest now and move on."

Sheldon Lewcock had been riding an electric bike with a group of other teenagers when Willicombe drove towards the group to try to scare them.

He hit Mr Lewcock's half-brother Kayden Williams with his wing-mirror - before striking Mr Lewcock head-on.

When asked how she remembers her son, Ms Lewcock said: "Just my boy: smiling, always happy. He wasn't a bad boy, he didn't hurt anyone."

"He didn't deserve any of this," she added.

Willicombe, of Home Straight, Newbury, will be sentenced next month.

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2024-05-08T16:30:52Z dg43tfdfdgfd