A dangerous driver who killed two cyclists while on his way to work in Winsford before fleeing the country has finally been brought to justice after more than 20 years.

Huseyin Ozkara was originally due to be sentenced at Chester Crown Court in September 2000 after being found guilty on two charges of causing death by dangerous driving.

A jury had convicted him in a two-day trial of killing cyclists Roger Harris and Bryan Kenealy in a collision which happened at the junction of Willington Lane and Wood Lane, between Duddon and Utkinton, on November 2, 1999.

But Ozkara, then 29 years old and living in Ashfield Road, Ellesmere Port, fled the country to Turkey. He was tracked down nearly 25 years later, living in France, and extradited back to the UK.

Recorder of Chester Judge Steven Everett jailed Ozkara, now 53, for a total of 12 years and eight months.

Prosecuting, Gareth Bellis said on November 2, 1999, Ozkara had been travelling with a passenger in his Renault car on his way to work in Winsford. He was said to be in a bad mood following a row with his wife.

As Ozkara and his passenger approached the crossroads junction, which the court heard was clearly marked and signed as 'give way', Mr Harris and Mr Kenealy were approaching the same junction on their bicycles from the road to Ozkara's left, and a Range Rover driven by John Kinsey approached from the road on Ozkara's right.

'Irreplaceable'

Ozkara continued unabated at about 25mph across the junction, with the Range Rover - unable to avoid the Renault - hitting the rear offside end of the car, causing both vehicles to spin round. Tragically, the cars each hit the cyclists. Mr Harris died at the scene while Mr Kenealy died later in hospital. Both were in their 60s.

Philip Harris, Mr Harris' brother, read out a victim impact statement in which he expressed 'sadness, anger and frustration' at the defendant absconding from bail and becoming a 'fugitive' from justice.

He added his brother, who died aged 66, was 'irreplaceable', and thanked the support of his employers at West Midlands NHS Trust and his wife Jean over the years.

Daughter Andrea Harris said the loss of her father had left a 'deep void' and meant he missed seeing his grandchildren grow up.

'Well respected and loved'

Ms Harris added her mother had been left with no closure, sadly dying 10 years after Mr Harris. When Ms Harris went to her mother's home, she found several papers and letters to politicians, asking for support to bring Ozkara back to the UK.

Judge Everett remarked: "The thing that is coming across is how well respected and loved he was. What a huge trauma it has been to his family. One of the aggravating features is his wife died 10 years later without seeing justice."

Mr Bellis told the court the family of Mr Kenealy had been contacted, but did not wish to provide a statement.

Ozkara had three previous motoring convictions for driving without insurance and a conviction for driving with a defective tyre.

Defending, Philip Clemo said Ozkara had come to the UK in 1995 as an asylum seeker, fleeing persecution in Turkey.

He and his wife were threatened at the time of the trial and conviction in 2000, and he took the decision to return to Turkey, but planned on coming back to the UK as his wife - still in the UK - was being treated for tuberculosis.

However, Ozkara tried to go back via a people trafficker, was caught in Greece, and deported back to Turkey after serving two weeks in prison.

He spent seven years there before moving to France, where he lived for 17 years.

Mr Clemo said Ozkara believed if authorities were not contacting him, then he was not needed to return to the UK, something which judge Everett remarked he 'did not believe for a second'.

'Looking to evade justice'

The court heard Ozkara divorced in 2017, was on cardio treatment after suffering a heart attack in 2007, and had lost childhood friends and family members in an earthquake in Turkey last year.

Judge Everett said he had 'no doubt' Ozkara was 'looking to evade justice', noting Ozkara had been 'shocked' in a probation report, prior to the original sentencing date, that a prison sentence was being considered for him.

He added Ozkara's 'highly dangerous manoeuvre' that day had led to the death of 'two good friends and keen cyclists' which had a long-lasting impact on their familes, while Ozkara was 'able to carry on' with his family life.

Ozkara must serve two-thirds of the 12-year sentence he received for the two death by dangerous driving charges in custody, before being eligible for parole.

He must serve at least half of an additional eight-month sentence behind bars for failing to surrender to custody, a case which the judge said was 'one of the worst examples' he had ever known.

After his release, Ozkara - who the court heard had stopped driving - will be banned from driving for a further seven years.

'Justice would be done'

After Ozkara was sent to the cells, the judge offered his sincerest condolences to members of the victims' families.

Speaking afterwards, Andrea Harris said she had 'always hoped' Ozkara would be found, and 'that justice would be done'.

Deborah Davies, the other daughter of Mr Harris, wished to thank Cheshire Police and the family liaison team for being supportive, and the family had 'finally got there' after 25 years.

Cheshire Police Sergeant Andrew Dennison said the case was a warning to criminals: "Even if you escape the country, Cheshire Police will hunt you down and you will face justice."