The husband of a pensioner cyclist killed when timber fell off a lorry has blasted magistrates for a £2,000 fine over the tragedy.

Gordon McNeil, 69, was hoping for a compensation order from the Abingdon court.

Instead, the lorry owners were fined £2,000 after admitting using a vehicle in a dangerous condition. Driver Lee Buckingham, 29, was fined £160, plus £40 costs and three penalty points.

Mr McNeil stormed afterwards: "What is £2,000 for a life? I think it's terrible. What about us? This has ruined our lives. Where was our compensation?"

The court heard that 69-year-old Hazel McNeil was cycling along a footpath in Drayton, near Abingdon, on August 7.

A flatbed lorry owned by Buildbase Ltd, of Watlington Road, Cowley, was being driven by Buckingham, of Tarragon Place, Blackbird Leys.

Sarah Page, prosecuting, said another driver, Peter Selby, saw part of the load start sloping.

She added: "As it fell, it knocked her off her bicycle."

The great-grandmother, of Lyford Close, Drayton, died later in hospital.

Martin Bastow, defending both Buckingham and Buildbase, said the driver had already made three deliveries that morning.

"At least one of them involved re-tightening the strap which came off. No-one knows truly what happened on the day."

He added that it was the responsibility of drivers to ensure straps were secure - hence the guilty pleas.

Afterwards, Mr McNeil said the company, which was also ordered to pay £40 costs, should have been fined more.

But he added: "I don't want a man to go to prison for this. It is too late now. It was compensation I was looking for. We've all lost Hazel."

Story date: Tuesday 09 February

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