18 months for ‘thrillseeking’ cyclist who fatally hit mother

 A cyclist who knocked down a mother-of-two was an “accident waiting to happen” who rode his illegal bike for the “thrill”, a judge said as she sentenced him to 18 months’ custody.

Charlie Alliston, then 18, was travelling at 18mph on a fixed-wheel track bike with no front brakes when he crashed into Kim Briggs, 44, in Old Street, East London, on Feb 12 last year. She suffered “catastrophic” head injuries and died a week later. Alliston, 20, had been cleared of manslaughter but found guilty of causing bodily harm by “wanton and furious driving”.

Judge Wendy Joseph QC told him at the Old Bailey: “I am satisfied in some part it was this so-called thrill that motivated you to ride without a front brake, shouting and swearing at pedestrians to get out of the way. You were an accident waiting to happen.”

The court heard Alliston from Bermondsey, south London, was depressed and had lost his girlfriend and his job.