A WOMAN from Welwyn Garden City who killed a cyclist walked free from court because a judge did not want her to give birth in prison.

Debra Kelly, 38, of Tubbs Croft, received a suspended sentence at St Albans Crown Court on Friday after pleading guilty to causing the death of 47-year-old father-of-four Kenneth Lush by careless driving at 9.15pm on May 13.

She fled the scene on the A414 between Hatfield and Hertford, later telling police she thought she had hit an animal.

Judge Andrew Bright told Kelly that her victim was blameless, as he was wearing high visibility clothing and displaying lights as he cycled home to Ware from work.

He said she "richly deserved" prison but that it would not be in the public interest for her baby, expected in six weeks, to be born behind bars.

Kelly, whose car overturned on the central reservation after the impact, was given a lift away from the scene in a van, but defence barrister Liam Walker said there was no evidence she had been trying to avoid detection.

She admitted drinking a glass of wine, but breath tests, taken after she gave herself up to police the next morning, proved negative.

Detective Constable Dee Rayner said: “This is a tragic case and my sincere sympathy goes to Mr Lush’s family.

“The driver in this case will have to live with her mistake for the rest of her life and I hope from this tragedy, drivers at least will be reminded that pedal cyclists are vulnerable road users.

"Drivers have a responsibility to be vigilant and drive with care and attention at all times.”