Last moments of cyclist, 53, peddling home from work revealed before being mowed down in hit and run just days before Christmas – as ‘reckless’ drink-driver is jailed for 13 years

• Gregg Marsh, 24, from West Yorkshire, was sentenced to 13 years in prison
• The driver killed cyclist Shaun Parkin-Coates, 53, four days before Christmas

A ‘selfish and reckless’ hit and run driver has been jailed for 13 years for killing a cyclist in a crash four days before Christmas.

Gregg Marsh, 24, from Ackworth, West Yorkshire, was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court after being found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving.

He claimed not to have seen 53-year-old Shaun Parkin-Coates when he mowed him down despite his victim being ‘lit up like a Christmas tree’.

Heartbreaking footage of the last moments of his life showed Mr Parkin-Coates getting onto his bike at a zebra crossing in a car park, before peddling away onto the main road. 

Marsh struck the cyclist, who was heading in the same direction, at around at 6.30am on December 21, 2019.

Gregg Marsh, 24, (pictured) from Ackworth, West Yorkshire, was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court after being found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving

He then drove his mangled Ford Fiesta five miles home and climbed into bed – where police found him. 

The 24-year-old admitted being the driver but denied knowing he had struck Mr Parkin-Coates, even though he had continued driving after the crash with a badly damaged car and smashed windscreen caused by the impact.

He told police: ‘I heard a bang but I did not see anything. I did not think I hit a cyclist. I was looking through the windows. There was nothing dangerous about it.’

Marsh failed a drink-drive test at the station, to which he sounded baffled and was heard to say he had only had ‘about half a Smirnoff Ice’ – an alcopop with similar strength to beer.

He later admitted he drank another small can of cider before his arrest.

Mr Parkin-Coates was heading home from a night shift at a Next distribution centre on the morning he was killed.

Witnesses described him as being well lit and wearing reflective clothing, while the lights on his rucksack and bicycle were turned on. One said he was ‘lit up like a Christmas tree’.

Mr Parkin-Coates (pictured) was heading home from a night shift at a Next distribution centre on the morning he was killed

Detective Sergeant Paul Lightowler, of the West Yorkshire Police Major Collision Enquiry Team, said: ‘Shaun was making his way home from work, with just a few days to go before Christmas, when one man’s selfish and reckless actions took away his future.

‘He was wearing reflective clothing and had lights on his bike and backpack and had taken all sensible precautions that we would expect a cyclist to take when travelling at night.

‘Before the collision, Marsh had been seen driving erratically and, on his arrest, had alcohol, cocaine and cannabis in his system.

‘His behaviour and manner of driving that night was dangerous and sadly has ultimately resulted in Shaun’s death.

‘I hope the conclusion of the court case brings some closure for Shaun’s family and friends after what has been an absolutely unimaginable few years.’

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