TheMansfieldTown forward Lucas Akins has been jailed for 14 months after causing the death of a cyclist he hit as he pulled out from a junction.
Leeds crown court heard how Adrian Daniel, 33, died 10 days after he was hit by Akins, who was driving his seven-year-old daughter to a piano lesson in a Mercedes G-Wagon, near Huddersfield in March 2022.
Daniel was riding down Huddersfield Road, close to the West Yorkshire town, on his way home from work when Akins, 36, pulled out into his path from Crosland Factory Lane. Prosecutors said the League One player failed to stop at the give-way sign, which the defendant disputed, telling police officers he did not see Daniel approach.
On Thursday, Judge Alex Menary said he had considered suspending the prison term but had decided only an immediate sentence of 14 months was appropriate. Akins, of Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, admitted causing death by careless driving at a previous hearing.
Carmel Pearson, prosecuting, said the collision was recorded on Daniel’s headcam. He suffered catastrophic head injuries and died 10 days later in hospital. The prosecutor said it was a “difficult junction to emerge from” but the defendant “did not stop at the give-way sign”.
Daniel’s wife, Savanna, read a statement to the court, describing her husband as “an adrenaline junkie” who rode his bike to and from work every day. She said they were married the year before he died and Adrian Daniel was totally devoted to her, and her daughter from a previous relationship.
Savanna Daniel told the judge: “It has been like hell and a nightmare I’m not waking up from. There was no reason for Adrian to be killed that way.” She said that if drugs, drink or excessive speed had been involved, that might make it more understandable, but added: “This was too simple a collision to have taken a life.”
She added that she knows Akins has a young family and does not want them to grow up without their father. Savanna Daniel added: “We do not need any more lives to be destroyed from this.” But she also criticised him for failing to plead guilty at an earlier stage.
Tim Pole, defending, told the judge: “I want to publicly apologise on his behalf. The fact he caused the death of Daniel continues to dominate his thoughts and it is a burden he will carry for the rest of his life.” Pole said his client understood the “frustration and anger” expressed by Savanna Daniel about the time it took him to plead guilty, and said her words to the court “had a profound impact on him”.
Pole said the collision occurred when Akins was having difficulties in his personal life and his marriage had now come to an end, although he continues to co-parent his three young children. The barrister said: “He is fundamentally a decent, honest and hard-working individual.” Pole added the player had “retained the support of his employers” but explained this may not continue with an immediate custodial sentence.
Jailing Akins and disqualifying him from driving for 12 months, Judge Menary said: “It is plain to me you are someone who is highly unlikely to trouble the courts again.” He said there was strong personal mitigation but concluded: “Against that, it seems to be the appropriate punishment can only be achieved by immediate custody.”
The judge said he accepted Akins’s remorse was genuine but also said his failure to admit his guilt at an earlier stage prolonged Savanna Daniel’s “heartache and grief”.
In an official statement, Mansfield Town said they “acknowledge today’s decision by Leeds Crown Court concerning Lucas Akins following a tragic road traffic accident in March 2022.
“Mansfield Town Football Club offers its sincere and deepest condolences to the family of Adrian Daniel at this difficult time,” the statement said. “The club is considering its position with regards to Lucas and will be making no further comment at this stage.”
Akins has played for Mansfield since 2022, joining the Stags after eight years at Burton Albion. He began his career at hometown club Huddersfield Town and also played for Tranmere, Stevenage and Scottish side Hamilton, among others. Akins has also played international football for Grenada, making his debut last June.