CHRISTOPHER Gibb's father forgave Kevin Johnson after the courier was sentenced yesterday.

Rob Barron spoke to Johnson in the moments after he left the courtroom, telling the defendant it was time to "move on".

Speaking to the Daily Echo, Mr Barron said: "He was telling me how sorry he was, and I believe him.

"I really do."

Both Mr Barron and Mr Gibb's mum Deborah Turner read moving victim impact statements out in the courtroom yesterday.

Mrs Turner said her son had been "full of life and vitality".

"There are days when I feel physically sick that I will not see him again, that he's dead," she said.

"The finality of that word literally sickens me."

Mrs Turner told the court she dreams of sitting quietly with her son and feeling "completely happy".

"In September 2017, I considered myself to have a charmed life," she said.

"Now my life is no longer charmed. It has changed forever."

Mr Barron wept as he offered his forgiveness to Johnson.

"We do not wish to live carrying the burden of anger and bitterness towards him. Our faith in God is a huge part of our lives," he said.

"In our lives there is pain that is so hard to bear, but nothing will bring him back to us in this life."

Johnson admitted causing death by careless driving after Mr Gibbs was killed as he cycled on the A338 Spur Road on October 3 last year.

Inspector Joe Pardey, who led the investigation into Mr Gibbs' death, said: "This was a tragic incident that cost the life of a young man and my thoughts remain with Mr Gibbs' family and friends.

"Kevin Johnson's decision to leave the scene without reporting the matter to police could be considered as morally indefensible.

“I would like to praise the officer who spotted the vehicle that led to us quickly identifying the man responsible and allowed us to bring him before the courts."