A cement mixer driver who caused a six-vehicle pile-up as he used his mobile phone while driving on the A55 near Chester has been spared jail.

Kieran Edwards, 27, of Oldwood, new Broughton, Wrexham, had previously pleaded guilty at Chester Magistrates Court to dangerous driving.

Appearing back before magistrates on Tuesday, April 30, Edwards was handed a suspended sentence and a 12-month driving ban.

Prosecuting, Jessica Pridding said it was at 8.30am on October 24, 2023 when on-board CCTV footage of Edwards, in the heavily loaded Scania HGV cement mixer, showed him travelling at 56mph.

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He was seen to be looking down at his lap while driving on the eastbound carriageway.

Traffic was then building near the Posthouse Roundabout junction. The driver in front braked to a stop, and Edwards applied an emergency stop, but hit the back of a Citroen, which in turn hit the vehicle in front.

Six vehicles were impacted in total, the court heard.

'Avoidable distraction'

In police interview, Edwards said he was "very sorry" for what happened.

He had no previous convictions.

Defending, Ben Sayers said it was accepted the mobile phone was an "avoidable distraction". The court heard Edwards' daughter had scarlet fever, so he was keeping his phone to hand for updates.

The defendant "felt absolutely awful about the collision", in which fortunately no-one had been seriously injured.

The court heard Edwards had since lost his job as an HGV driver.

Magistrates imposed a 26-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. During that time, Edwards must complete 200 hours unpaid work and 25 days of a rehabilitation activity requirement. He must also pay a £154 victim surcharge and £120 court costs.

He would be able to drive again after completing an extended retest following the expiration of his 12-month ban.