A motorist was cleared of dangerous driving after ploughing into a cyclist and killing him.

Derek Cummins died instantly when Christian Clarke's Audi A4 smashed into him on the A24.

A court heard that Clarke, a computer systems manager for Cancer Research UK, had apologised to the former soldier's family for causing his death.

But a judge said the apology meant nothing because Clarke refused to accept responsibility for what happened.

Clarke, 33, was cleared by a jury of causing death by dangerous driving.

However, he was convicted of the lesser charge of careless driving and banned for 18 months.

He was also fined £1,500 and ordered to pay £2,500 legal costs.

Mr Cummins' widow Patricia and his family did not want to comment on the verdict as they left Hove Crown Court yesterday.

They had listened from the public gallery as Judge Guy Anthony told Clarke he had been convicted on the clearest evidence.

He said: "It must have been apparent the sole cause was that you did not see Mr Cummins and drove into him.

"I do not doubt you regret what happened and that your expression of regret to his family is genuine.

"But it does not amount to a genuine apology because you refuse to accept what happened."

During a three-day trial, the court heard that Mr Cummins was a fit and strong 62-year-old and a keen cyclist.

He rode from his home in Goring, near Worthing, to work at Southwater, near Horsham, and back again every day.

Witnesses said his bike "exploded in bits and pieces" when it was hit as it joined the A24 at Ashington on May 26.

Mr Cummins was hurled into the air and the impact sent him rolling 50 yards down the dual carriageway.

A car driver and motorcyclist who stopped at the scene said they had spotted Mr Cummins' yellow high-visibility cycling top from 200 yards away.

Clarke, of Turnpike Way, Ashington, said he had not seen Mr Cummins because the cyclist's top had merged with the colour of the vegetation as he drove up the slip road to join the A24.

Alan Kent, prosecuting, said Clarke was not speeding, had not been drinking and there were no faults with his car.

He said the death of Mr Cummins was caused by driver error because he failed to properly check the road ahead.