Two years’ jail for killer cyclist in UK illegally
AN ILLEGAL immigrant who killed a pedestrian in a cycling hit-and-run incident was given just a two year jail sentence after prosecutors were forced to rely on an outdated law to charge him.
Ermir Loka, 23, who was born in Albania and entered Britain illegally, killed 72-year-old Peter Mccombie after running a red light and ploughing into him on a pedestrian crossing in east London last July.
The maximum sentence for the offence is two years which means that Loka, who spent a year on remand, only served one day of his sentence before he was eligible for release. However, it is
understood he will now be deported.
Despite a campaign to tighten the legislation around cycling accidents, Loka had to be charged under the 150-year-old law of causing bodily harm by wanton or furious driving, which was originally intended to cover horse-drawn vehicles.
In 2017, there were calls for the law to be reformed after a mother of two was killed by a cyclist who also had to be prosecuted under the wanton driving legislation.
The Department for Transport launched a public consultation on road traffic laws but three years on, the reforms that have been called for around cycling safety have still not been enacted,
A spokesman said it was vital the department took the time to get the legislation correct and added that the Government’s response to the public consultation would be published in due time. Mr Mccombie, a human resources administrator, was struck by Loka as he crossed a road in Bow on July 3 last year. He sustained severe head injuries in the collision and died in hospital eight days later.
Loka immediately fled the scene on his bike, but handed himself into the police the following week after his image captured on CCTV was widely circulated.
During the investigation, detectives established that Loka had around eight seconds to stop as he approached the traffic lights that turned from green to red.
Because of his immigration status, he was remanded into custody and was charged with manslaughter and causing bodily harm by wanton or furious driving.
He was cleared of the more serious charge but convicted of the second.
Mr Mccombie’s family said his loss had been “immeasurable”, adding: “Peter still had so much left to do and enjoy with us and we have been robbed of that by the actions of this selfish man, who cycled into him and then immediately got up and fled.
“He left Peter lying in a busy road, seriously injured, and thought only of himself at that time. That kind of cowardice is beyond contempt. The anger we feel towards him is beyond words.”
Det Sgt Eddie Coleman said: “Loka’s actions were reckless and dangerous and entirely avoidable.”