The widow of an army veteran who died after being hit by a truck while cycling home says each day without him is 'like a living hell'.
Former Corporal Joe Clarke was travelling along a cycle lane in Trafford when David Clarke - who is no relation - pulled out of a side street in front of him.
Cpl Clarke, 28, fell under the wheels of the Mercedes lorry and suffered multiple crush injuries.
He died a week later in hospital.
David Clarke, 57, was this week handed a 24-week prison sentence suspended for two years and 200 hours unpaid work after pleading guilty to causing death by careless driving at Manchester Magistrates’ Court.
Cpl Clarke’s widow, Cassie Clarke, 30, has criticised the trucker for his actions and says her life is now “empty and meaningless”.
“All it took was three seconds to take his life and mine,” she said in a statement read out in court.
“I should not be a 30-year-old widow.
“We planned to have a family and to have a dream wedding ceremony. We will never have that now because of your poor decision making.
“Losing him has taken the enjoyment out of my life. I am a shadow of my former self. I have crippling anxiety and depression.
“I now have to live each day living in this world without him, (it) is like a living hell.
"My life is now empty and meaningless. He was a beautiful human being and this world is worse off without him.”
Paying tribute to Cpl Clarke - who served with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers - Mrs Clarke added: “Joe was so generous and thoughtful. He was a man who would give an elderly man a lift if he was in the street. The stories are endless.
“He would do anything for his family, friends and me. He did everything for me. He served this country for ten years and he was supposed to be my life partner.
“On the day it happened he kissed me on the forehead and I said I loved him. He left for work as normal but never came home. I sat in shock seeing him on a ventilator.
“That week, we sat by him waiting for updates but my world then ended. In our eight years of me being with him he was my protector and provider. The guilt of me not being with him kills me slowly.''
Cpl Clark was said to have dreamed of becoming a soldier since he was a young boy, having joined the army aged just 16. But ten years later a diagnosis of epilepsy led to him being medically discharged.
He worked alongside fellow ex-servicemen at a company based in Trafford Park.
Details of the tragedy were heard at court this week.
At 2.10pm on June 12, 2020, Cpl Clarke had finished his shift and was travelling home on his Carrera push bike.
He was using a dedicated cycle lane at Ashburton Road West, at junction with Wheel Forge Way, in Stretford.
Prosecutor Andrew Hay told the court how the defendant, who was driving a Mercedes’ heavy goods vehicle towards the junction, “failed to give way”.
“He continued onto the main road at speeds of between 10-12 mph without braking and he collided with Joseph Clarke,” he said.
Mr Clarke was taken to Salford Royal Hospital where he was treated for life threatening injuries, but sadly died a week later.
Mr Hay said: “He was wearing a proper crash helmet and equipment and cycling in a cycle lane. There is no question mark over him at all. It is of no blame from his cycling.
“The defendant answered no comment in interview. When approaching at the junction, Joseph Clarke should have been visible but he did not give way and turned left where he collided with the cyclist. He was not paying attention that he was there.”
In a statement read to the trucker, Cpl Clarke's sister Jennifer Travis said: “We know you would have been advised to answer no comment in interview but we have felt tormented by the unknown of what really happened. I do not think that was the right thing to do.
“We have been playing our own version of events in our own minds over and over again.
“What we have been through would not be far off how I imagine hell. I still cannot come to terms with what has happened. He served 10 years in the army but died from the injuries he sustained just 10 minutes down the road.
“I cannot tell you what the world has lost in Joe.
“My mum is a shadow of her former self, they spent so much time together and now she feels guilty for not spending more time with him. Joe’s life was cut short, and this will never go away.
“My dad is broken, angry and still shocked.
"My children are also confused and my youngest does not fully understand why their uncle is not here anymore. My eldest asked if it was just the elderly who die but I had to explain that people can be taken from us without warning.”
Fraser Livesey, defending David Clarke, described him as a “thoroughly decent man” with children and grandchildren who he works to provide for.
“David Clarke’s remorse is clear and genuine,” he said.
“He has driven since he was very young and has been a HGV driver for over 30 years. He has an impeccable driving record and has never had to make an insurance claim.
“He has not driven for his employers since this incident but he is a valued employee and now works within the warehouse.
“He thinks of Joseph Clarke’s family and their position frequently. He knows he has caused unimaginable pain and caused devastation.
“He would like me to apologise to you all. He knows sorry is not enough. He himself has been affected. He struggles to sleep, replaying the incident over and over again.
“He just did not see the cyclist that day. He did not set out to harm anyone on that day. There is no suggestion of speed or using a mobile phone. He came out of the giveaway junction.”
Clarke, of Padgate, Warrington, Cheshire, was also banned from driving for two years and ordered to pay £205 in costs and surcharges.
Sentencing District Judge Jack McGarva said: “Joseph Clarke was a much loved family man with all his life ahead of him but he did not come home. He did nothing wrong but his life was taken away from him because you pulled out of a side road onto a main road without stopping.
“Because of your actions, a young life has been needlessly lost and you have to live with that.
“The driving only lasted a few seconds but it only takes a few seconds to take a life.
“I am not sure if that was because you are a HGV driver and you expect people to stop for you but it is someone who has made the decision to pull out. Sending you directly to prison at your age will not bring Joe back, it would only be revenge.”
Joseph Clarke’s family have since set up the Corporal Clarke Foundation - a charity which aims to support ex-servicemen and women in Greater Manchester.
