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Ex-soldier admits causing death of motorbike rider

A former soldier has pleaded guilty to causing the death of a Walsall father by driving dangerously.

Published
Wolverhampton Crown Court

Myles Byrne, aged 49, was due to be sentenced today at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

He had denied the charge, admitting a lesser offence of causing death by careless driving, but changed his plea yesterday on what was due to be the first day of his trial.

Lee Marlow, aged 34, from Broad Lane, Pelsall, died when his motorbike was involved in a collision with Byrne's Mercedes Sprinter van.

The crash happened at about 10.10pm on September 17 last year at the junction of Hall Lane and Vicarage Road, near Pelsall Common.

Mr Simon Phillips, defending, told Wolverhampton Crown Court that Byrne had served in the British Army for 14 years and had been a HGV driver since 2002.

Sentencing was postponed for 24 hours so that Byrne, who faces a prison term, could bring medication for various health conditions, with him to court.

He suffers from sleep apnea and uses an oxygen cylinder at night. He also takes mediation for asthma and a collapsed trachea.

Byrne, of Tame Close, Tamworth, was granted unconditional bail.

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