THE driver who killed cyclist Joe Wilkins has this afternoon been found not guilty of causing his death by dangerous driving.

Paul Brown, 30, had admitted causing the 39-year-old part-time firefighter’s death through careless driving but denied the more serious charge.

Today he was unanimously cleared by the jury at Oxford Crown Court after a four-day trial.

Father-of-two Mr Wilkins died in May last year after being hit by Brown’s Ford Focus in Eaton Road near Appleton.

The jury took just over four hours to reach their verdict and Brown, of Oxford Road, Eynsham, held his head in his hands when the verdict was read out. There were sighs of relief from his family in court.

Brown is due to be sentenced at the court on September 3.