Killer driver who caused death of beloved Sheffield Adrian Lane avoids immediate prison sentence

After sobbing quietly in the dock throughout most of this afternoon’s Sheffield Crown Court hearing, 40-year-old Gillian Dungworth seemed shocked as she was told she would not be sent straight to prison for causing Dr Adrian Lane’s death through dangerous driving, during a crash on Ringinglow Road in Bents Green, Sheffield on September 15, 2022.

The court heard how Dungworth, driving a Vauxhall Corsa vehicle, collided with Dr Lane, who was cycling in the opposite direction, after her view of the road was temporarily obstructed by the car in front as she attempted to turn right into Common Lane.

In a statement submitted to the police and the Crown Prosecution Service on behalf of Dr Lane’s ex-wife Louise, and their two children, they said they had come to the conclusion it was a ‘tragic accident’.

Dr Lane’s family also said they bear Dungworth ‘no ill feelings,’ and also noted the ‘devastating impact’ the crash has had upon her.

The Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, described the case as a ‘tragedy in every dimension’ that had been caused by ‘a few seconds of dreadful driving’ on Dungworth’s part.

He told Dungworth that he had concluded that ‘justice does not demand that you are sent to prison immediately’.

The court heard how Dr Lane was not wearing a cycling helmet, and Judge Richardson noted that ‘if ever there was a case that demonstrates the need for cyclists to wear a helmet - this is it’.

Describing the circumstances of the fatal collision, Judge Richardson said Dungworth was driving along Ringinglow Road- which is subject to a speed limit of 30 miles per hour - ‘entirely carefully...not exceeding the speed limit’ and prepared to turn right into Common Lane.

“Two cars ahead of you were doing the same thing. The deceased was coming towards you. He was actually travelling at the speed limit,” Judge Richardson said.

Prosecutor Ian West said Dr Lane was travelling downhill at the time of the collision, providing him with ‘the benefit of momentum’.

Judge Richardson said Dr Lane was cycling ‘perfectly normally’ and the two cars that safely executed the right turn ahead of Dungworth would have been able to see him in the distance.

He continued: “You, for a few seconds - and that’s all it was - would not have seen him, or if you did took an egregious risk.

“I suspect you didn’t see him until he was almost upon you, and that’s where the dangerous driving arises.”

Judge Richardson said Dungworth attempted to make the same right turn the two cars in front of her had executed safely - with fatal consequences.

“You would have had sight of him for at most 4.28 seconds, or at least you should have had sight of him for that period of time. Although, it’s fair to observe that would have been reduced for a little bit because he was masked by the car that executed the right turn ahead of you.”

“You were immediately distraught by what you had done,” said Judge Richardson, and said Dungworth’s emotional state in the aftermath had been ‘evidenced’ through videos taken at the scene that had been played to the court.

Dr Lane suffered multiple injuries in the collision, and despite the best efforts of medics, they ultimately proved to be fatal and he died a short while later in hospital.

Following Dr Lane’s death, those closest to him revealed he was in the process of selling his IT business and had planned to move to Santander in Spain with his partner, Moni when he was tragically killed.

Get Sheffield’s biggest stories as they’re happening - sign up for the new breaking newsletter Dungworth, of Marlowe Road, Rotherham, was subsequently charged with, and pleaded guilty to, one count of causing death by dangerous driving,

Defending, Oliver Jarvis, said Dungworth has two children, aged 12 and 17, the latter of whom is currently pregnant.

Mr Jarvis told the court that Dungworth is someone who has ‘worked all her life,’ first as a carer, before beginning a career as a phlebotomist for Rotherham General Hospital. Referring to the reports prepared on Dungworth’s behalf, Judge Richardson said he noted that she suffers from ‘significant post-traumatic stress disorder’.

Judge Richardson sentenced Dungworth to two years’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, and banned her from driving for five years, after which time she will be required to take an extended test should she wish to get back behind the wheel.

“No sentence I can pass ever bring back the life of the deceased, or provide solace to his family,” Judge Richardson told the court.

Outlining the reasons he believed a suspended sentence was appropriate in her case, he told Dungworth that she is ‘filled with remorse’; has a psychiatric condition and is in ‘every sense a decent woman’.

He continued: “You made a mistake, a bad mistake in a few seconds, for which you have paid a terrible price; and more importantly the deceased paid a terrible price.

“You caused that, there must be a punishment, but I have decided that a suspended sentence is the right course of action.” Following his death, Dr Lane’s friends launched The Lane Campaign to demand improvements on the road. 'Die in' on Ringinglow Road as spot where cyclist Adrian Land was fatally injured.

They positioned a white ‘ghost’ bike at the junction where he died and blocked Ringinglow Road with a ‘die-in’ - lying in the carriageway - as part of their campaign.