A motorcycle rider who "had a strong dislike verging on hatred for cyclists" has been sentenced to at least 5½ years in jail for killing a rider four years ago.
Ben Smith, 27, was found guilty in May of the manslaughter of Steven Jarvie, 62, who suffered fatal head injuries when he came off his bike as Smith sped past him on the Old Pacific Highway at Cowan, just north of Sydney, on February 17, 2013.
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Ben Smith has been jailed for at least five years, after running cyclist Steven Jarvie off the road at Cowan, north of Sydney in February 2013.
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Motorcyclist jailed for death of cyclist
Ben Smith has been jailed for at least five years, after running cyclist Steven Jarvie off the road at Cowan, north of Sydney in February 2013.
"The c--- f---ing deserved it," Smith, who didn't stop to help Mr Jarvie, later told another cyclist at a nearby cafe.
Mr Jarvie's partner says Smith left the father-of-three "dying on the side of the road like a piece of garbage".
The Penrith District Court on Monday heard Smith had yelled abuse at "f---ing idiot" cyclists before he came across Mr Jarvie.
Judge Mark Buscombe found the offender "had a strong dislike verging on hatred for cyclists".
He had also attacked cyclists in a 2012 Facebook comment, saying: "Start paying for using the road or keep copping abuse and 2inch [sic] flybys."
Judge Buscombe said Smith and his father were speeding when they rode past the group of four middle-aged cyclists including Jarvie "in a manner that was grossly negligent".
But he was not satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Smith deliberately drove too close to Mr Jarvie because of his hatred of cyclists.
He sentenced Smith - who was on bail and on a good behaviour bond at the time of the offence - to eight years in jail with a non-parole period of five-and-a-half years.
Smith hugged and kissed teary family members as he was led to the cells.
Outside court, Mr Jarvie's partner Linda Ellis said she feels immense and absolute relief.
"It sends a really, really good message to all the Ben Smiths out there ... that there's consequences," she said.
"They can't just do what they like and leave someone dying on the side of the road like a piece of garbage."
Smith will be eligible for parole in December 2022.
AAP