A professional footballer has been sentenced to 14 months in prison for causing the death of a cyclist in a car crash. The incident occurred when Mansfield Town forward Lucas Akins collided with cyclist Adrian Daniel in Huddersfield while driving his daughter to a piano lesson. The crash, which took place on 17 March 2022, resulted in Daniel, 33, suffering severe head injuries. He died in hospital 10 days later.
During the court proceedings, it was revealed that the accident happened at a difficult junction where Akins failed to stop at a give-way sign. This act of careless or inconsiderate driving led to the tragic consequences. Akins, 36, pleaded guilty to the charge earlier this year but only did so shortly before appearing in a match for Mansfield Town. Despite his ongoing participation in the team’s matches following the incident, the court has now delivered its verdict.
The presiding judge acknowledged the complexity of the decision, admitting he had considered a suspended sentence. However, he concluded that the severity of the incident and the failure to plead guilty earlier required an immediate custodial sentence. The court also imposed a 12-month driving suspension on the footballer.
Adrian Daniel’s wife, Savanna Daniel, gave a heart-wrenching statement during the proceedings. She described the period following the accident as “hell” and a “nightmare” from which she has not been able to wake. She expressed disbelief that such a seemingly minor traffic error could lead to the loss of her husband’s life. While she stated that she did not want Akins’s children to grow up without their father, she criticized his delayed admission of guilt, arguing that it had prolonged her family’s suffering unnecessarily.
The court heard that although Akins had shown remorse, his decision to delay the guilty plea had intensified the grief of Daniel’s family. His legal representative emphasized that Akins was a decent, hardworking individual who deeply regretted the consequences of his actions. A public apology was made on his behalf, acknowledging the pain caused to Daniel’s family.
Despite the apology, Savanna Daniel remained firm in her belief that the justice process had been misused. She argued that Akins’s remorse was undermined by the delay in taking responsibility for the accident. In her words, his conduct had made a “mockery” of the justice system and extended the emotional toll on her and her family.
Mansfield Town Football Club acknowledged the court’s decision, expressing condolences to Adrian Daniel’s family. The club also stated that it was reviewing its position on Akins but declined to make further comments at the time.
Lucas Akins has played for Mansfield Town since 2022 and has previously had stints with other clubs, including Huddersfield Town, Tranmere Rovers, and Burton Albion. His conviction brings a tragic chapter to a close for the Daniel family, who have endured a long and painful wait for justice.
