A NORTH Tyne truck driver who was cleared earlier this year of causing the death of a retired teacher through dangerous driving has been given a suspended prison sentence for perverting the course of justice.

In March, Andrew Reed (28), of Westmacott Street, Ridsdale, was found not guilty at trial at Newcastle Crown Court of driving dangerously and causing the death of causing the death of Isabel Gilchrist and seriously injuring her husband Daniel in Kielder in June 2018.

The court heard Reed had reversed his wagon on the C200 road to allow another vehicle to pass, and had not seen the Gilchrists on a motorbike behind him. He reversed his vehicle into them, with Mrs Gilchrist dying of her injuries.

Last week at Newcastle Crown Court, Reed was sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for 12 months, and given a 24-month community order after he pleaded guilty to a charge of perverting the course of justice relating to the fatal incident by changing a defective tyre on his vehicle, even though the tyre had not contributed to the accident.

As part of his community order, Reed must complete 150 hours of unpaid work and is subject of a six-month curfew between the hours of 7pm and 7am.