A man who crashed into a cyclist and killed him has been banned from driving for a year and ordered to carry out 240 hours’ community service.
Stephen McKay, of Dunfermline, lost control of his car as he took a double bend and skidded into bakery worker Brian Taylor.
Mr Taylor, who was on his way to work, was cycling along a notorious C-road between Dunfermline and Rosyth when the accident happened.
Mr Taylor’s aunt, Heather, said his death had left the family completely devastated.
When asked for her reaction to the sentence, she told The Courier, “That’s shocking, but I think we knew in our heart of hearts that he would get away with it.
“That’s just the way the law goes these days.”
Dunfermline Sheriff Court heard McKay was driving at just 10mph above the road’s 40mph limit.
It was dark, the road was wet and tools in the back of the vehicle had a pendulum-like effect on it once the accused lost control.
Passing sentence, Sheriff Craig McSherry said he was not convinced the level of carelessness involved merited sending McKay to prison.
McKay (35), of Russell Place, admitted causing Mr Taylor’s death by driving without due care and attention on Grange Road on November 15, 2008.
He drove at excessive speed, failed to negotiate a double bend and lost control of his car, which caused him to drive on the wrong side of the road and collide with Mr Taylor.
Mr Taylor (pictured), also from Dunfermline, was thrown from his bike and was so severely injured that he died at the scene.
Depute fiscal Louise Ward told the court, “As the accused took a double bend he lost control of his car and collided with Mr Taylor, propelling him on to the grass verge on the east side of the road.
“A witness who was driving along the road saw the accused’s car sitting stationary with its headlights and hazard lights on.
“This person was approached by McKay who appeared to be in a panicked state and told him, ‘I have just hit somebody…I think I have killed him’.”
Solicitor Chris Sneddon insisted his client accepted full responsibility for the accident and added, “He doesn’t dispute anything in the narration.”
The case had been continued until Tuesday to give the Crown time to consider a report prepared by the defence.
Mr Sneddon said McKay was a plumber and had his equipment and tools in the back of the car.SkiddedThe accused tried to correct the steering, but the vehicle skidded out of control, he said.
“The incident took place because the accused was driving at 10mph over the speed limit,” said Mr Sneddon.
“Had he not been doing so, this accident would not have happened. He accepts that and it is something he will have to live with.
“He is acutely aware of the devastating impact this accident has had on the family of Mr Taylor.”
McKay would never forgive himself for what happened.
Sheriff McSherry told McKay, “It is quite tragic, the outcome of this for the family of the deceased, but I am not persuaded that the level of carelessness is such as to merit a sentence of imprisonment.”
McKay was fined £275 for committing a breach of the peace on Abbotsford Road, Lochore, on August 19 last year, during which he brandished an iron bar.
The court heard he got involved in a dispute with a shopkeeper he was doing some plumbing work for.
Sheriff McSherry also fined him £50 for failing to turn up for a hearing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court on October 6 of last year.