Wickham,Hampshire Wednesday 17th August 2016 Files Pictures of Fatal RTC A 69-year-old driver who killed a 'handsome and motivated' cyclist with a dream to compete professionally when she was 'blinded by the sun' has been spared jail.<br />
<br />
William Houghton died in hospital just one day after pensioner Jeanette Smith crashed her white Citroen C3 into him on a busy A-road in Whickham, Hampshire.<br />
<br />
The 20-year-old university student had been an aspiring professional cyclist and had bought online a brand new racing bike just days before he died.<br />
<br />
Smith, from Denmead, Hampshire, has now admitted causing death by careless driving but was spared jail by magistrates who instead sentenced her to a 12-month community order.<br />
<br />
She wept in the dock at Portsmouth Magistrates' Court as she was also disqualified from driving for a year and ordered to carry out 60 hours of unpaid work.<br />
<br />
Magistrates were told how Smith ploughed her hatchback crashed into Mr Houghton after she was 'blinded by the sun' on the A32 on January 28.<br />
<br />
He suffered serious head injuries and was taken to hospital but passed away the following day.<br />
<br />
Paying tribute to their son after the Smith's sentencing, Mr Houghton's parents, Liz and Richard Houghton, said: 'Our grief for our loving, passionate, driven and wonderful son Will is deep.<br />
<br />
©UKNIP