Mansfield Town footballer Lucas Akins has been sentenced to 14 months in prison for causing the death of a cyclist by careless driving. The 36-year-old struck Adrian Daniel, 33, with his Mercedes in Huddersfield in March 2022, with Mr Daniel dying ten days later from a catastrophic head injury.
Akins pleaded guilty at Leeds Crown Court on March 4. Judge Alex Menary said there was “strong personal mitigation” but that “appropriate punishment can only be achieved by immediate custody”. The forward will serve half his sentence in prison before release on licence and has also been banned from driving for a year.
Prosecutor Carmel Pearson KC told the court that Mr Daniel was cycling downhill with a headcam recording. Akins pulled out from a give-way junction at slow speed and struck the cyclist, leaving him no time to brake. The victim’s wife, Savannah Daniel, said in her impact statement: “His wife and children shouldn’t have to live the life we have since that day.”
Defence barrister Tim Pole KC said Akins would carry the burden “for the rest of his life” and expressed remorse on his behalf. Akins, who has made over 600 career appearances for clubs including Burton Albion and has seven caps for Grenada, had been a regular for Mansfield this season.
