THE driver of a lorry who killed a church worker in Oxford has
been spared a prison sentence after the victim's parents
intervened.
Joanna Braithwaite, 34, the personal assistant of the Rector of
St Aldate's, the Revd Charlie Cleverly, was killed in October last
year as she was cycling to work.
The 75-year-old driver, Stephen Bateman, had missed a turn and
was reversing his cement mixer into a road when he ran over Miss
Braithwaite.
The maximum sentence for the charge is five years, but Mr
Bateman was given an eight-month term, suspended for a year.
The Recorder, Harold Persaud, sentencing, said: "There is
something that has impressed me greatly in this case, and that is
the generosity Mr and Mrs Braithwaite have shown towards you. They
have said they do not seek retribution. They have also recognised
how this has affected you.
"They are aware nothing I do will bring back their
daughter."
Mr Cleverly said it was a "terrible accident" and that he
believed justice had been done. The church congregation missed Miss
Braithwaite "terribly", he said.