Driver, 44, who had smoked cannabis hours before killing father-of-three cyclist in crash is spared jail - after judge is told him being behind bars would have 'harmful effect on his mother'
- Mark Beresford killed Darren Maironis as he cycled along the A535 in Cheshire
- Judge Simon Berkson said jail time would impact Beresford's elderly mother
A man who had smoked cannabis hours before he killed a father-of-three when he crashed his Ford Transit van into him as he cycled along the road has been spared jail as the judge said it would have a 'potential impact' on his mother.
Mark Beresford was found by police officers lying on the ground talking in a 'childlike manner' as high school maths teacher Darren Maironis was being rushed to hospital with fatal injuries.
The 44-year-old had failed to spot the married father-of-three as he cycled down a hill towards him and incredibly told officers as he was on the floor: 'He could have gone around me, that's what gets me.'
Inquiries revealed the warehouseman had been smoking cannabis the night before the accident but was under the drug-drive limit when he was tested four hours after the crash.
Former wrestler Mr Maironis, who taught at Westleigh School in Leigh, Greater Manchester, was taking part in a cycling time trial at the time.
He died the following day in hospital.
At Chester Crown Court, Beresford, from Macclesfield, Cheshire, faced up to three years in prison after he admitted causing death by careless driving.
But Judge Simon Berkson instead spared him time behind bars as 'it would have an effect' on his elderly mother. Mail.
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