Mansfield Town Player Jailed for 14 Month's - After Causing Death of A Cyclist.

Mansfield Town player Lucas Akins aged 36, jailed for 14 month's after causing the death
of a cyclist. The cyclist died 10 days after he was hit by Lucas Akins car in 2022.

Lucas Akins, had admitted to causing death by careless driving at a previous hearing.

Lucas Akins played in the recent Easter games for Mansfield Town, Good Friday against
Rotherham United [3-3] away game, & Easter Monday against Reading [1-5] at home.

Mansfield Town statement -
" Mansfield Town is considering its position with regards to Lucas, & will be making no
further comment at this stage. "

I read about this yesterday and gave it some thought as to not post it but here we are.

Makes you wonder if Mansfield town have any morale compass. They must have been fully aware that he was due up in court looking at jail time yet still chose to use start him against us. Were they right to do so? It was obvious by causing someone's death that jail time was almost inevitable yet they still sent him out there.

The charge was 'careless driving' and no way intentioanl so maybe I'm being harsh on both the player and Mansfield Town?

Having seen how many footballers drive it's just surprising this doen't happen more often, especially with Premier League players driving cars too powerful for them to control.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Brin

I read about this yesterday and gave it some thought as to not post it but here we are.

Makes you wonder if Mansfield town have any morale compass. They must have been fully aware that he was due up in court looking at jail time yet still chose to use start him against us. Were they right to do so? It was obvious by causing someone's death that jail time was almost inevitable yet they still sent him out there.

The charge was 'careless driving' and no way intentional so maybe I'm being harsh on both the player and Mansfield Town?

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I've come back to this as what was lost was a person's life and that is far too tragic to ignore. It didn't appear to bother Akins one dot as he got on with playing football. He started against Wigan hours after the collision way back in 2022. Here's more.

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, in Huddersfield, in March 2022.

Daniel was riding down Huddersfield Road, in the West Yorkshire town, on his way home from work when Grenada international Akins, 36, pulled out into his path from Crosland Factory Lane. Prosecutors said the Sky Bet 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 admitted causing death by careless driving at a previous hearing some three years later!

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 a taken a life."

She said she knows Akins has a young family and she does not want them to grow up without their father. She added: "We do not need any more lives to be destroyed from this." But she 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's a burden he will carry for the rest of his life."

Pole said his client understood the "frustration and anger" expressed by Savanna Daniels about the time it took him to plead guilty, and said her words to the court "had a profound impact on him".

The barrister 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.

Pole said: "He's fundamentally a decent, honest and hard-working individual."

He said the player had "retained the support of his employers" but added 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".

Akins has played for Mansfield since 2022 and was previously with clubs including Huddersfield, Tranmere and Burton.

In a statement issued through West Yorkshire Police, Mrs Daniel said: "Three years of hell, three years of avoidance and adding further to my trauma has finally come to a close today with Akins' sentencing.

"Never being allowed to fully live the reality of Adrian's absence because of the farce Akins has made of the justice system and the chances offered to him, has finally been put to bed and this man is no more deserving of any further of my time or concern.

"No power is held over me or my family anymore and no justice will ever bring Adrian back.

"This could all have been resolved sooner and that is the further insult to injury and makes a mockery of any remorse that Akins offers for his actions."

A Mansfield Town statement read: "Mansfield Town Football Club acknowledges 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 club is considering its position with regards to Lucas and will be making no further comment at this stage."

Not admitting liabilty for 3 whole years.....I feel he should have got more time.