

An HGV driver has been jailed after he killed a cyclist in Birmingham because his view was obstructed by “an array of dashboard junk”.
Robert Bradbury was sentenced to 21 months and handed a two year and 10 month driving ban after being found guilty of causing death by careless driving at Birmingham Crown Court.
A jury heard how Dr Suzanna Bull, a medic at the city’s hospital, should have been in full view in Bradbury’s mirror for five seconds as she cycled ahead of him by at least three bike lengths in October 2017.
But as they approached a junction Bradbury indicated left and began his manoeuvre without noticing Bull in the dedicated cycle lane.
The 32-year-old was pronounced dead at the hospital later that day.
Bradbury stopped at the scene and in a voluntary interview admitted he had items displayed on his dashboard and an extra table fitted on top of it which reduced his visibility.
West Midlands police said his employer, S&J Transport in Coleshill, knew the table had been removed to avoid failing an MOT in May 2017, but the table and items such as a fan, satnav and toys, were re-installed the next day.
PC Mark Crozier, from the serious collision investigation unit, said: “I hope this sends a serious message to all road hauliers and drivers to review their vehicle checking processes as the safety of all road users is and always should be a priority.”
S&J Transport pleaded guilty to an offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act and were fined £112,500 and ordered to pay £3,000 in court costs.