Roger Parris, 63, was cycling to work at Creamline Dairies in Manchester when he was hit by a car (Picture: Cavendish Press)
A milkman had the ‘pleasures of retirement taken from him’ after being knocked off his bicycle and killed by a careless driver.
Roger Parris, 63, was cycling to Creamline Dairies in Manchester for his shift at 1am when he was hit by a learner driver who was speeding alongside a BMW and also making a phone call.
Ravi Singh-Ratthore, 22, was yesterday jailed for 14 months after admitting causing death by careless driving and driving without a full licence.
Roger’s brother, Andrew Parris, told Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester: ‘If he had not been killed by this man’s callous and carelessness, my brother would have continued to outlive us all.
‘Now I am missing a brother who has always been there for me. He made such a difference in so many people’s lives.
‘I will miss the funny messages, weekly chats and daily inspiration he gave me. I will now never be able to reminisce about our childhood, our mother or quirky past with anyone else. I am just full of memories.
‘Never again will he cook his famous Sunday roasts. His fitness and zest for life has been wasted. He will not see his children blossom into their marriages and have children themselves.
He was a keen walker, hiker and cyclist
Roger was a much-loved dad and had two young grandchildren (Picture: Cavendish Press)
He had worked as a milkman for 16 years (Picture: Cavendish Press)
‘He worked all of his adult life and planned to retire in spring 2022. The pleasures of retirement were taken from him. We will never be able to hear his Salfordian tones again. The thoughts of him dying alone and in pain will stay with me forever.
‘He was not just a father, but a mentor and a beacon of strength to all. Every day, I grapple with the reality that he will not be there for the small moments and big milestones. The biggest impact of all will be on his three months and two-month-old grandchildren, who have been completely denied any memory of having their pops.
‘It just makes us all angry that the man who killed him was driving on a provisional licence. The utter contempt he has for others and the law is disgraceful. It is clear that in his hands a car is a killing machine.’
Roger’s daughter Heather added in a statement that the last time she ever saw her dad was on her wedding day.
She said: ‘Losing someone just days before Christmas is a pain that lingers. Every time I hear a bike bell or see a cyclist, I am reminded of that fact.
‘His wisdom and humour has now been replaced by a silence that echoes throughout our lives. I have since had to sell the family home, the sale of which was going to fund his retirement by the sea.’
Roger was cycling to work in Eccles from his home in Salford just a few days before Christmas when the crash happened (Picture: Cavendish Press)
Roger was said to have a ‘zest for life’ which has been ‘wasted’ (Picture: Cavendish Press)
The crash happened when Roger was cycling to work in Eccles from his home in Salford on December 20, 2021.
The grandad, who had been working as a milkman for 16 years, was wearing bright reflective clothing and had lights fixed on the front and back of his bike.
Prosecutor John Kennerley told how Singh-Ratthore, of Lime Crescent in Old Trafford, was driving a silver Volkswagen Golf without L plates and was travelling alongside a BMW Series 1.
They were passing over the Manchester Ship Canal on Centenary Way, a dual carriageway which had a clearly marked 40mph speed limit.
Singh-Ratthore was thought to be travelling at between 52 and 58mph, and evidence from his phone showed he made a call at 12.40am which lasted for around 13 minutes and coincided with the crash.
It could not be determined whether he was using the hands-free device in his car or not.
Roger pictured with his daughter Heather (Picture: Cavendish Press)
Ravi Singh-Ratthore, 22, was jailed for 14 months after admitting causing Roger’s death by careless driving and driving without a full licence (Picture: Cavendish Press)
Mr Kennerley added: ‘When the BMW driver saw Mr Parris, he applied his brakes. The defendant was immediately behind Mr Parris, but he was oblivious and drove straight into the back of him.
‘It was clear that he did not see him because he only applied his brake lights after the collision.
‘The defendant did not stop immediately, but rather went to the end of the bridge, round the roundabout looped back on himself to rejoin the road he was on. Once he got back, he stopped the car and activated his hazard lights.
‘Another road user who was driving by thought she saw rubbish in the road before realising it was a person. She stopped her car, put her hazards on and called 999.
‘The defendant pulled up alongside her and the witness noticed extensive damage to his windscreen. All this time, Mr Parris was unconscious but breathing.’
Roger was taken to Royal Salford Hospital but was declared dead at 1.30am due to the severity of his injuries.
Singh-Ratthore initially told police he brought his aunt with him in the car, but later gave no comment at interview.
Mitigating, Neil Ronan said: ‘His early guilty plea is a consequence of his remorse and contrition of his actions that morning. This is a defendant that ought not to have been driving at all.’
He added Singh-Ratthore is ‘loved’, volunteers in Stockport and is training to become a personal trainer. He also looks after his 80-year-old grandma.
Mr Ronan added: ‘He has anxiety, depression and PTSD. He simply did not have the toolkit to pull over or slow down.’
The defendant was also disqualified from driving for three years and seven months.
‘The pleasures of retirement were taken from him.’