THE devastated brother of cyclist who died when a driver “ploughed” into him while looking at pictures on his phone has hit out at the man who killed him, saying he has shown "no remorse".

Rhys James, brother of Owain Richard James, 30, who he called a “one-of-a-kind guy”, attended court every day of the trial of Andrzej Wojcicki along with other family members.

The minibus driver was yesterday found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving and was jailed for five years.

Andrzej Wojcicki, 45, of Conway Court, Blackwood, had been taking photos of vintage cars as he drove along the A472 near Newbridge up to half a mile before the fatal collision with the Oakdale cyclist Owain Richard James, 30.

Rhys, 32, said he was relieved by the verdict: “We are glad he’s going to prison. It could have been more, but there has been justice. Finally, he has got what he deserved. We are happy that his lies have been seen through.”

Mr James also said his brother was a very competent cyclist. “Owain did that route every Sunday,” he added.

“He was riding on the hard shoulder apparently. The only thing he didn’t have was a helmet but the police have said the helmet wouldn’t have saved him. He had a cycling proficiency certificate and that was his main form of transport.”

Earlier in the trial he said the family just wanted the case to be over: “This has gone on too long for us as a family.

My father is suffering from serious lack of sleep, he’s thinking about the case all the time. Last month he was helping my uncle and he cut his thumb off on a cyclical saw.

“My mother wants some justice. She can’t rest. For us it will help because he has shown no remorse. He’s got a business, he’s got a family. He doesn’t seem to be suffering at all.

“It’s very hard for me, it’s made it a bit easier as my wife has had a baby and I’m in Poland. Thinking about my parents going through this was very hard for me.

“Owain and I were very, very close, I was his confidante. He cared for everybody and would go out of his way to help other people. He was a one-of- a-kind guy. He’d found a girlfriend and he was about to move to Spain. Me and him were in the process of starting our own business.

If [Wojcicki] had shown remorse and said sorry, my family wouldn’t be so hell bent on getting him found guilty. We wouldn’t have even cared if it was jail if he’d shown any remorse but he’s gone up there and said not guilty.