Two motorists who killed a cyclist while racing on a road then blamed it on each other have been jailed.
Graham Pattison, 49, from Hartlepool, was sent 40 metres through the air when he was knocked off his bike while cycling on the A689 near Sedgefield, in County Durham, on 24 July 2020.
Judge Jonathan Carroll said the married father-of-two had done nothing wrong when he was hit by 24-year-old Paige Robinson’s Ford Fiesta.
She had been distracted by an ongoing road rage incident with ex-army officer David Ferry, 47, and was trying to undertake his Audi TT when she drove into the back of Mr Pattison at about 70mph, Teesside Crown Court heard.
They both denied a charge of causing death by dangerous driving but were convicted after a trial, during which the prosecution said each defendant was equally to blame.
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Robinson, from Billingham, sobbed throughout the sentencing as she was jailed for seven years and nine months on Wednesday, while Ferry, from Redcar, was sentenced to eight years as he did not stop at the scene.
Mr Pattison’s widow, Victoria, said she had lost her soulmate of 30 years and their two daughters a loving father.
In court, she said: “This kind of loss doesn’t discriminate, it can happen to anybody.
“Please remember that when you get behind the wheel of your car.”
Judge Carroll said Mr Pattison and his family had been deprived of a future together “because of this senseless, unnecessary and appalling dangerous driving”.
Ex-army officer David Ferry did not stop at the scene after cyclist Graham Pattison was hit and later told police he was unaware there had been a collision
(Cleveland Police)
It started some miles before the collision when Robinson, distracted and singing to music, repeatedly accidentally cut in front of Ferry, the court heard.
Annoyed, Ferry eventually got past her after the two drivers had tried to “get the better over the other”, the judge said.
Robinson was egged on by her boyfriend, who was not in the dock but should share some culpability for the tragedy, the judge said.
A short distance later, Robinson caught up and was determined to pass Ferry, tailgating him, while he brake-tested her.
She tried to undertake Ferry, who swerved towards her, moments before she crashed into Mr Pattison, causing catastrophic injuries.
Ferry drove home and was to tell police he was unaware there had been a collision, a claim rejected by the judge.
Paige Robinson, 24, was egged on by her boyfriend, who should share some culpability, a judge said
(Cleveland Police)
Martin Sharpe, for Robinson, said the ex-care worker, from Billingham, was deeply remorseful.
He said: “Her life has been a nightmare and she must bear full responsibility for what she did.”
Dan Cordey, for Ferry, said he was previously of exemplary character, adding: “He is horrified, in his own words, and heartbroken about what happened.”
The judge banned both drivers from driving to cover their prison sentence and the period of any early release.
Outside court, Sergeant Catherine Iley, of Cleveland Police said: “The offenders blamed each other for the collision which took Mr Pattison’s life but as the court heard, they were driving with total disregard for other road users.
“Their selfish actions had catastrophic consequences.”
Mr Pattison’s family previously described him as a “dearly lovely husband, father and son”.
“We are in shock at his loss and our lives will never be the same without him,” they said.
Additional reporting by Press Association