Farmer jailed for 18 months over Paralympic cyclist crash

The man who knocked down gold medal-winning Paralympic cyclist Simon Richardson has been jailed at Cardiff Crown Court.

Edward Adams, a farmer from Cowbridge, was sentenced to 18 months in prison and disqualified from driving for five years.

He admitted drink-driving and not stopping at the scene of an accident, but denied the charge of dangerous driving.

The trial, at Newport Crown Court, heard that he was more than double the drink-drive limit at the time and driving with chronically bad eye-sight.

Double gold-medallist Mr Richardson, from Porthcawl, was training for the Paralympics when he was hit by Adams' van in August last year.

The injuries he suffered in the crash meant he has been unable to compete in London this year.

Sentencing Adams, Judge Mr Justice Daniel Williams said: "The quiet dignity with which Mr Richardson dealt with what you did to him that summer's day is humbling."

He dismissed Adams' claims he was dazzled by sun, couldn't see and thought he'd hit a sheep as lies.

After the sentencing, Mr Richardson spoke of his struggle to put his life back together since.