A former Partick Thistle player has been sentenced to 14 months in prison for causing the death of a cyclist in a tragic accident that unfolded in Huddersfield in March 2022. Lucas Akins, 36, was driving his seven-year-old daughter to a piano lesson when he struck 33-year-old Adrian Daniel, who was riding his bicycle home from work. The collision, which was recorded on Daniel's headcam, resulted in catastrophic injuries that led to his death 10 days later.
During a hearing at Leeds Crown Court on April 24, 2025, Judge Alex Menary expressed the seriousness of the incident, stating that while there was strong personal mitigation in Akins's favor, immediate custody was necessary. Akins had previously admitted to causing death by careless driving, and as a result, he will be disqualified from driving for 12 months following his release.
The court heard that the accident occurred when Akins failed to stop at a give-way sign at the T-junction of Huddersfield Road and Crosland Factory Lane. Prosecutor Carmel Pearson KC detailed the events leading up to the collision, noting that footage from Daniel's headcam showed him in good condition as he approached the junction. Unfortunately, it was too late for him to brake when Akins pulled out in front of him.
Judge Menary remarked, "It is plain to me you are someone who is highly unlikely to trouble the courts again," while also recognizing the profound impact of the accident on Daniel's family. During the proceedings, Savanna Daniel, the victim's wife, delivered a heartbreaking statement to the court, describing her husband as an "adrenaline junkie" who loved cycling. She expressed her devastation over the loss, stating, "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."
Mrs. Daniel also criticized Akins for not pleading guilty sooner, which prolonged her family's suffering. "This was too simple a collision to have taken a life," she added, emphasizing her frustration that the case could have been resolved much earlier. Despite the tragedy, she expressed empathy for Akins's family, noting that she did not want his children to grow up without their father.
Tim Pole, representing Akins, acknowledged the remorse his client felt and offered a public apology on his behalf. Pole explained that Akins was experiencing personal difficulties at the time of the incident, including a marriage that had ended, but he continued to co-parent his three young children. He described Akins as "fundamentally a decent, honest and hard-working individual," who has retained the support of his employers.
After considering the circumstances, Judge Menary concluded that Akins's actions warranted immediate custody. While he accepted that Akins's remorse was genuine, he noted that the delay in admitting guilt had exacerbated Mrs. Daniel's grief. "Your failure to admit your guilt at an earlier stage prolonged Mrs. Daniel’s heartache and grief," the judge stated.
Akins has played for Mansfield Town since 2022, and his career spans more than 600 appearances across English and Scottish leagues, including stints with Huddersfield Town, Tranmere Rovers, and Burton Albion. He has also represented Grenada at the international level, earning seven caps, with his last appearance being against Russia in March 2022.
In her statement following the sentencing, Mrs. Daniel reflected on the impact of the case on her life and the prolonged trauma she endured. "Three years of hell, three years of avoidance and adding further to my trauma has finally come to a close today with Akins’s sentencing," she said. "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."
As the court proceedings concluded, the judge's decision underscored the serious consequences of careless driving and the profound impact such incidents can have on families. The case has drawn attention not only for the tragic loss of life but also for the legal ramifications faced by professional athletes involved in similar incidents.
