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Tipper truck driver who killed cyclist Alan Neve jailed for three and a half years

Barry Meyer also banned from driving for 10 years after fatal crash on Holborn in July 2013

The driver of a tipper truck involved in the death of a London cyclist in July 2013 has been jailed for three and a half years and banned from driving for 10 years.

Barry Meyer, aged 53 and of Aubrey Road, E17, pleaded guilty in April to causing the death of cyclist Alan Neve in July 2013 by careless driving and driving while uninsured and unlicensed.

Last month, Blackfriars Crown Court heard that Meyer, who had been banned from driving five times and had two previous convictions for drunk driving, had jumped a red light as he tried to keep up with a colleague driving another truck in front of him.

Sentencing him today, Judge Daniel Worsley told Meyer: "It's an understatement to say the impact of the harm you caused was devastating beyond all measure,” reports the London Evening Standard.

"But nothing I can do or say can bring back Mr Neve or undo the horror your careless caused.

"The degree of your carelessness was in my judgement about as high as the court may ever have to deal with for this offence for causing death by careless driving, as opposed to causing death by dangerous driving.

"You have a sustained history of driving offences showing wretched disregard for the safety of road users."

At the original hearing, he told Meyer that he had a “shocking driving history,” with the lorry driver only changing his plea once the judge said that his past record would be disclosed to the jury.

After today’s sentence was handed down, Detective Sergeant Cheryl Frost, of the Metropolitan Police Service’s Roads and Transport Policing Command, said: "I would like to express my gratitude to the family of Alan Neve.

“They have carried themselves with the utmost dignity throughout this process which has lasted almost two years. It has been an extremely difficult time for them but their desire to assist us and support this investigation is testament to their strength."

In a statement, Mr Neve’s family said: “Alan was a kind, loving, optimistic, law-abiding man who had many years of life ahead of him.

“It was his great misfortune to travel the same route as Mr Meyer on Monday 15th July 2013.

“Many people have been deeply affected by Alan's death. We are relieved that there has finally been an end to this process and that there is some sense of justice for Alan.

“Alan will never ever be forgotten.”

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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38 comments

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freespirit1 | 9 years ago
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Only one way to stop him driving whilst banned and that is bang him up for life.

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Kalain | 9 years ago
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The jail sentence is poor, should be much higher imo. The 10 year ban on driving won't stop him since he's been banned 5 times previously...

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Das | 9 years ago
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He will be out in 21 months time. Where is the justice in that? The Ten year ban wont stand either, but hes proved already a ban means nothing to him anyway.

Remember Anyone can apply a sentence as being unduly lenient, so get on it and start an Appeal. If nothing else it will be playing mind games with him.

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ianrobo | 9 years ago
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If they employed someone it was illegal to drive then they should be. However bet this was a back hander job.

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MarkBowll | 9 years ago
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So the driver's jailed but what about his employer? Surely they have some responsibility for this?

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Wilts Cyclist | 9 years ago
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Uninsured, unlicensed, banned from driving 5 times, 2 convictions for drink driving, jumped red light resulting in death of this poor chap, he gets just 3½ years inside, probably out in 2 on good behaviour.
Dunno what to say really, my belief has been beggared.

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zanf replied to Wilts Cyclist | 9 years ago
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RiderWeaver wrote:

Uninsured, unlicensed, banned from driving 5 times, 2 convictions for drink driving, jumped red light resulting in death of this poor chap, he gets just 3½ years inside, probably out in 2 on good behaviour.
Dunno what to say really, my belief has been beggared.

Quote:

You can ask for someone’s Crown Court sentence to be reviewed if you think it’s too low.

The Attorney General can review very low sentences given by the Crown Court in England and Wales if he’s asked to.

Only certain types of case can be reviewed, including:

murder
rape
robbery
some child sex crimes and child cruelty
some serious fraud
some serious drug crimes
crimes committed because of the victim’s race or religion

Anyone can ask for a sentence to be reviewed - they don’t have to be involved in the case.

Only 1 person needs to ask for a sentence to be reviewed.

Avatar
ianrobo | 9 years ago
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So he gets banned longer than being locked away for ... some justice ...

As the family says, some sense of justice but I would want min 10 years prison for this awful human being.

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