Girton crash: Driver jailed for killing cyclist, Isla Cochrane, 14

Isla Cochrane, 14, was riding her bicycle when she was involved in a collision

Cambridgeshire Police Isla Cochrane — Isla Cochrane, 14, was riding her bicycle when she was involved in a collision

A speeding driver who killed a 14-year-old cyclist when he oversteered and mounted a bike path has been jailed.

Oliver Nicholls, 22, crashed his Mini Cooper in to Isla Cochrane near Girton in Cambridgeshire in September 2022 after he overtook a turning vehicle.

Nicholls, from Godmanchester, had accelerated up to 71mph (114 km/h) three seconds prior to the crash.

He admitted causing death by dangerous driving and was sentenced to four years and 10 months imprisonment.

Cambridge Crown Court heard that Nicholls was going southbound on Oakington Road to a pub to play pool in Girton on 10 September, and 500m (1,640ft) prior to the crash, he was driving at 42mph (67.5km/h).

'Previous speeding offence'

Judge Mark Bishop said there was a car "driving slowly and signalling to turn left" ahead of Nicholls, and the judge said "you overtook that left-turning vehicle at speed".

The court heard Isla was travelling north on a bike on a cycle path, which is on a raised kerb and marked by solar studs.

Judge Bishop said Nicholls "accelerated very significantly", then oversteered, and at the point of impact was travelling at about 54mph (87km/h).

Isla was taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge but died of her injuries.

'She had no chance'

In a statement issued through police, her parents said: "Few moments pass without Isla in our immediate thoughts. Creative, social, sporting, comedic, kind and busy, the life to which she was entitled was taken cruelly from her.

"The court proceedings have highlighted how Isla, riding fully in the separated cycle lane, with lights and helmet, had done nothing wrong; she had no chance."

The court heard Nicholls had three points on his licence for a previous speeding offence.

In mitigation, Lucy Organ said Nicholls was "genuinely remorseful" and "he told one friend he wish he'd died that night".

She told the court Nicholls had worked as a healthcare assistant at the Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge during the Covid-19 pandemic and had received a number of commendations during his time there.

Judge Bishop, sentencing on Monday, acknowledged the "enormous grief and loss" of Isla's family, adding that they "spoke powerfully" in their victim impact statements and he expressed the court's condolences to them.

Judge Bishop said Nicholls was "not driving at in excess of the speed limit for very long", and "it's quite clear you will have much to contribute to our society in the years ahead".

As well as jailing him, Nicholls was banned from driving for seven years, six months and one week.