EFL footballer handed prison sentence after crashing Mercedes and killing cyclist

Footballer has been given a prison sentence at Leeds Crown Court for causing the death of cyclist in by careless or inconsiderate driving. The sentence relates to an incident in March 2022, with cyclist Adrian Daniel, 33, dying 10 days after being hit by Akins' .

Akins has been sentenced to 14 months in prison following a hearing. He will serve half the sentence in custody before being released on licence, and has been handed a one-year driving ban.

"It is plain to me you are someone who is highly unlikely to trouble the courts again," judge Alex Menary told the footballer, 36. "There is strong personal mitigation here. However, it seems to be the appropriate punishment can only be achieved by immediate custody."

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Akins pleaded guilty on March 4. He has been on the books of Mansfield Town this season, and has played several times for the League One side in the weeks since.

The 36-year-old has made more than 600 career appearances in England and , including two seasons in the EFL Championship with Burton Albion - from whom he joined Mansfield in 2021. He also has seven senior international caps for Grenada, most recently starting in a defeat against in March.

“Adrian Daniel was riding his bicycle and was travelling downhill on Huddersfield Road, heading towards the same junction," Carmel Pearson KC, prosecuting, said. "He was wearing a headcam that recorded his journey, and footage shows him in a good condition. Crossland Factory Lane forms at a T junction, with Huddersfield Road at a give-way junction.

"The defendant on the footage, albeit was driving slowly, pulled out at the give way junction and struck Adrian Daniel. It was too late for Adrian Daniel to brake and he suffered a catastrophic head injury."

Savannah Daniel, the wife of Adrian Daniel, acknowledged Akins has his own young family when giving her impact statement. "His wife and children shouldn't have to live the life we have since that day," she said.

"Adrian survived a terrible accident 11 years ago. I'm not a spiritual person, but I believe he survived that to find us, to show Evie what a dad was and me what true love was.

"I can say I have learned to live life without him and live it to the full, but that doesn't excuse Mr Akins' actions. Three years of hell, of avoidance and adding further to my trauma, has finally come to a close today.”

Tim Pole KC, representing Akins, said the footballer will carry the Burden of causing Mr Daniel's death "for the rest of his life". "He understands the frustration and anger at the delay of pleading guilty," he added.

"He's sorry for any additional distress the delay caused. But his remorse is genuine, and his thoughts and the thoughts of his family remain with the family of Mr Daniel.”