A man who collided with a 91-year-old man while riding his e-bike, resulting in the elderly man’s death as he was taking out his bins, has been acquitted in court.

The incident occurred when Clifford Cage, on his way to work, veered onto the pavement and struck Jim Blackwood. Following the collision on July 6, 2023, Blackwood was taken to the hospital but unfortunately passed away three months later on October 13. It was determined that the collision directly contributed to Blackwood’s death, leading to Cage, aged 68, being charged with manslaughter, a legal precedent according to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

Cage received a 15-month suspended sentence at Maidstone Crown Court. After the court proceedings, Cage and Blackwood’s daughter, Christine White, embraced. White commended the verdict, emphasizing the importance of holding cyclists accountable for endangering pedestrians.

In a voluntary police interview, Cage explained that he rode on the pavement due to previous close encounters with cars on the road. He claimed to be cycling at a moderate speed of approximately 12mph and did not see Blackwood emerge from behind an overgrown bush.

Despite initially denying manslaughter, Cage later admitted guilt in October 2025, expressing genuine remorse for his actions. Blackwood’s wife, Hanni Blackwood, lamented the loss of her husband, highlighting his military service and the tragic circumstances of his death.

Cage was also assigned a 15-day rehabilitation program and 180 hours of unpaid work. The CPS deemed this case a unique instance of a manslaughter conviction related to cycling on the pavement, with the limitations of existing laws necessitating this charge.

Matt Beard, a district crown prosecutor, affirmed that the circumstances warranted a manslaughter charge, bridging the gap between lesser driving offenses and the gravity of the incident. The decision aimed to meet the public interest in seeking justice for the tragic outcome.