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Driver who killed cyclist while being pursued by police in stolen car committed for trial

Arthur Bourlet died from injuries sustained when he was hit by vehicle driven by Gary Lynch in April

The driver of a stolen car being pursued by police who struck a cyclist, causing fatal injuries, will stand trial in the autumn on charges including causing death by dangerous driving.

Arthur Bourlet, a  member of Rockingham Forest Wheelers Cycling Club, sustained fatal injuries when he was hit by a Mitsubishi Shogun car being driven by Gary Lynch in Burton Latimer, Northamptonshire, at 9am on 11 April.

Lynch, aged 55 and of no fixed abode, was charged last month with offences including taking the vehicle from a farm at Grafton Regis, near Towcester, without the owner’s consent and causing serious injury through dangerous driving.

Since then, Mr Bourlet has died from his injuries and the latter charge has been changed to causing death by dangerous driving, reports the Northamptonshire Telegraph.

Lynch, who is in custody, had been due to appear at Northampton Crown Court via videolink for a plea and trial preparation hearing, but refused to leave his cell to enter pleas.

He is also charged with driving whilst disqualified, two counts of burglary and one of attempted burglary.

The court entered a not guilty plea on his behalf and he has been remanded in custody, with his trial, estimated to last five days, scheduled for October.

Since the vehicle Lynch was driving was being pursued by police at the time of the fatal collision, the incident has also been referred, in line with standard practice, to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

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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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