AN Okehampton woman driver who killed one cyclist and badly injured his friend after she was distracted by a spider was last week given a two year community order and driving ban by an Exeter judge.

Judge Graham Cottle heard that Georgina Mills grabbed the insect, and threw it out of the window — but took her eyes off the A30 momentarily and hit the two cyclists.

Judge Cottle told her: 'Cases like this are the most difficult that judges have to sentence.

'On the one hand a life has been lost in tragic circumstances and there is nothing I can do that will ever begin to compensate for that enduring pain suffered by those who have lost a loved one.

'On the other hand, which is often the case as it it here, that the person responsible for that outcome is of exemplary character.'

The court heard Ms Mills was driving to work in Exeter last September when the accident happened. She was wearing sunglasses and had the sun visor down as she drove her Peugeot at 60mph to 65mph, when the little spider dropped in front of her.

Prosecutor Richard Crabb said: 'She grabbed it, opened the window and chucked it out. She looked back at the road and saw the first cyclist, but by then it was too late and a collision occurred.

'It is estimated she took her eyes off the road for two seconds.'

Simon Evans, 37, had been riding behind his brother-in-law Keith Richards as they cycled towards Exeter on the second day of a ride from Land's End to Mr Evans' home in Derby.

Mr Evans' bike had been inside the rumble strip of the carriageway and had not been on the main road when he was hit.

Mr Richards, also 37, was in front and suffered leg injuries. But Mr Evans was pronounced dead at hospital an hour after the impact, from spinal and head wounds.

Defence barrister Rupert Taylor said a moment's distraction had led to the collision that had 'caused the tragic and dreadful consequences'.

Mr Taylor said civil engineer Ms Mills, 23, who had had a clean driving record, would never drive again and suffered nightmares.

He said: 'She tried to get the spider out of the way. She is a decent, productive, hard working member of the community.'

Judge Cottle sentenced her to a two year community order with 200 hours of unpaid work and a two year ban.

But he said her real sentence would be the knowledge that she was responsible for the loss of life.