A WIDOW whose husband was killed while cycling yesterday told a court it was the worst day of her life.

Jacky Measor spoke about the day cyclist Derek died as the motorist responsible apologised to her family after admitting causing his death, and was sentenced by Oxford magistrates.

Mrs Measor told the court: “It was the worst day of my life. I had my whole world torn apart.”

Oxford Mail:

Derek Measor’s widow Jacky, son Darren, and daughter Vicki at Abingdon Town Football Club where a memorial tournament was staged in his honour
 

Driver Johnson Nwanekezi, 40, who admitted causing death by careless driving before the trial was due to start, said he was willing to go to prison if Mr Measor’s family wanted. But he was ordered to do 160 hours of unpaid work.

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Nwanekezi broke down as he apologised to the family.

Prosecutor Helen Waite said BMW factory worker Mr Measor, 56, died when he was hit by Nwanekezi’s Nissan Micra in Watlington Road, near Garsington, at about 5.30am on Monday, February 17.

She said the driver was coming around a curve in the road but would have had about five seconds to react after seeing the cyclist.

The court heard Unipart worker Nwanekezi told police he was too close to Mr Measor to brake so he swerved.

But he could not avoid Chalgrove man Mr Measor, who was cycling to work at the Mini plant.

The prosecutor said Mr Measor was wearing a hi-vis jacket and using lights and reflectors. A colleague later said the keen cyclist was usually “lit up like a Christmas tree”.

She added: “He was there to be seen and Mr Nwanekezi failed to see him in time.”

Mrs Measor, reading her victim impact statement in court, said plans for the future with her husband had been shattered, adding: “I will now be spending those days on my own with a broken heart.”

Their son Darren Measor, who also read out a statement, said his father had cycled more than 135,000 miles without an accident.

He also said his dad had left a big impression on many people including those footballers he coached over the years.

He said: “His life may have been cut tragically short but his legacy will remain for years to come.”

In a statement released by Mr Measor’s family after his death in February, they described him as somebody who everyone could lean on. They said: “He had three main passions in his life – football, cycling and holidays.”

Husband to Jacky and father to Darren and Vicki, Mr Measor was an active member of the football scene as a player and manager, including a 15-year stint at Rover Cowley FC in the Oxfordshire Senior League.

He was secretary at the club until it folded three years ago.

The Manchester United fan also helped out at Watlington Town Football Club and Marston Saints. He was assistant manager of the Oxford University Press (OUP) team.

He was remembered at a memorial football tournament held at Abingdon Town Football Club last month.

He had been a keen cyclist for more than 30 years, taking part in a number of rallies, including a charity race from Brighton to Oxford.

He cycled on the B480 every day to his job at the Mini plant where he had worked for 32 years as a paint sprayer then factory worker.

Passing sentence, District Judge Tim Pattinson said: “Cases of causing death by careless driving are amongst the most tragic, if not the most tragic, which any court can deal with.

“This case is no exception.”

He said he would spare Nwanekezi prison as the driver was remorseful and had a clean criminal record.

Nwanekezi, of Beauvoir Road in Reading, was also banned from driving for 12 months, ordered to pay £800 costs and a £60 victims’ surcharge.

He broke down as he apologised to the family and said: “It was the worst day of my life.”


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