A driver who killed a cyclist as he exchanged a number of 'trivial' text messages with a woman he had only just met online has been jailed.

Accountant John Michell, 26, was distracted at the wheel as he drove home along a dark and unlit road in Redbourn Road and struck cyclist Mark Greenwood.

The 57-year-old was thrown from his bike and died of multiple traumatic injuries after being hit by Michell's Volkswagon Golf at around 6.25pm on January 9 last year.

St Albans Crown Court heard on Monday that the keen cyclist had been wearing a high visibility jacket and helmet and other motorists had been able to see him.

In a period of two minutes and 21 seconds leading up to the collision, Michell composed three Whatsapp messages and read two messages he'd received.

The messages were with a woman he'd met online earlier who he'd never met in person, the court heard.

By complete coincidence, the court was told that although the two men didn't know each other, they lived in the same apartment block near St Mary’s Church.

Michell, who now lives in Whaddon Close, Northampton, pleaded guilty to a charge of causing death by dangerous driving.

A victim impact statement was read to the court from Mr Greenwood's partner, Susan Ullman, in which she said she didn't want Michell to be sent to prison, which she said would be another "life lost".

The court heard Mr Greenwood had finished work that evening at Abbeyfield in St Albans, and at around 6pm set off for the cycle ride to Redbourn along the A5183.

The last CCTV sighting of Mr Greenwood cycling out of the city centre in St Albans showed that the lights on his bike were not on at that stage, but it may have been because he was in a well lit area, said Peter Shaw prosecuting.

The court was told Mr Greenwood was seen by a number of motorists on the A5183 riding slowly and in a straight line near the kerb.

But also coming up behind the cyclist was Michell in his silver Golf and, because of the text messages he was sending and receiving, he failed to spot him.

At the scene, he told a police officer "I was travelling along Redbourn Road in the direction of Redbourn. It was dark. as I was driving I received a message on my phone.

"I glanced down at the phone to see the message. When I looked up the cyclist was there and I collided with it.

"I went up to the roundabout to turn round and came back to the scene. The male was on the floor. I did not move him or the bike."

The prosecutor said the phone of Michell was examined by police investigators and it was then discovered he'd been having a Whatsapp conversation with the woman.

At 6.12pm and 6.14pm he sent the woman text messages. Her replies to him were timed at 6.19pm and 6.20pm.

The court was told as he continued his journey he sent two messages to her at 6.20pm, and two more at 6.21pm and she sent him back two further messages.

Michell's barrister John Dye said he was genuinely remorseful and had been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder because of what had happened.

Passing sentence, Judge Andrew Bright QC, said: "I am satisfied the cause of the collision was that you were distracted by using your phone when driving."

He also said he also had a duty to the public and the message had to go out "loud and clear" that those who use mobile phones when driving could expect prison sentences if their actions resulted in the loss of life.

He jailed Michell for 21 months and disqualified him from driving for three years, telling him he must take an extended driving test before he gets back behind the wheel of a car again.