A loving mum-of-three was killed on her way to work after a reckless driver ploughed into her - before going to knock over another cyclist just minutes later.
Agnieszka Pocztowska was left for dead after being hit by a silver Ford Focus being driven by 23-year-old Nathan Schultz on the morning of 14 September, 2020.
A trial at Chester Crown Court previously heard that Ms Pocztowska had been cycling to work when she was knocked off her bike on Hungerford Road in Cheshire. Schultz, and his passenger Kasey Wrench, failed to stop and drove off towards the M6 motorway.
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Just minutes later, Schultz was involved in a second collision, knocking a cyclist off his bike on Crewe Road, Haslington. Once again, he failed to stop at the scene.
The rider from the second collision, a 53-year-old man, escaped with just minor injuries. However, 41-year-old Agnieszka, suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead a short time later.
A manhunt was launched to trace the people responsible and following enquiries officers located the vehicle involved abandoned on a road in Trent Vale.
The car had extensive damage to the front windscreen along with three defective tyres. Schultz was quickly identified as a suspect and arrested and charged later that day.
Schultz was jailed for 10 years at Chester Crown Court today (March 3) after he was earlier found guilty of causing the death of Agnieszka Pocztowska’s by dangerous driving following a four-day trial at Chester Crown Court.
Schultz had previously pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, failing to provide a specimen, driving without insurance, driving without a licence, two counts of failing to stop following a collision and two counts of failing to report a collision. He also admitted causing Agnieszka’s death whilst unlicensed and uninsured.
Kasey Wrench, 21, of Epping Road, Trent Vale, later pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving without a licence and driving without insurance.
He was dealt with earlier and sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for 24 months and 200 hours unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay £300 costs, £136 victim surcharge, disqualified from driving for three years and to take an extended driving test.
Following the sentencing Agnieszka’s husband said: “Agnieszka was a loving wife, my best friend of 21 years and a devoted mother to our three children.
“She was a beautiful and caring woman with a big heart, who was an amazing friend and was loved by everyone who ever met her. Our lives were torn apart by Agnieszka’s death and nothing can ever repair that hole that has now been left.
“The sentence given today does not reflect the pain and heartbreak my family has endured since my loving wife’s death.
“That being said I would like to thank the jury for reaching a guilty verdict and for allowing us to achieve some form of justice for the man who killed my wife, my love and my best friend.
“My thanks go to Cheshire Police for all their hard work gathering all the evidence to achieve the guilty verdict - the right result.”
In addition to his prison sentence, Schultz was also banned from driving for ten years. He will also be required to take an extended retest.
Following Schultz’s conviction, PC Robin Fisher, of the Serious and Complex Collision investigation unit, said: “Agnieszka was a loving wife and a devoted mum to her three children.
“She left home that morning and was cycling to work, but as a result of the actions taken by Schultz and Wrench she never arrived. The pair are both responsible for her death, Schultz was driving the car that hit her and Wrench was sat in the passenger seat.
“They were both aware that they had hit Agnieszka, but rather than stop at the scene to help her, they purposefully chose to drive off and left her to die at the side of the road.
“Even after the second collision, they continued and thought that they could evade justice. But thankfully, after a complex and detailed investigation, we were able to locate and bring both men to justice for their actions that day.”
Inspector Helen Cooper added: “It has taken more than two-years to get to this point, but I hope that the conclusion of this case will provide Agnieszka’s family with some form of closure.
“The pain and suffering that they have endured is unimaginable and our thoughts are with them at this time.
“This has been one of the most difficult cases that I have ever dealt with in my whole career at Cheshire Constabulary and I would like to thank all of the officers who have been involved in this case and who have all played a role in helping to finally achieve justice for Agnieszka’s family.”
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