Cyclist jailed for over six years after fatal attack on pensioner in Garforth
Thomas Childe, 24, has been jailed for six years and eight months after admitting the manslaughter of Colin Starbuck, 79, in Garforth, West Yorkshire. The judge said Childe deliberately rode into Starbuck after becoming annoyed when the pensioner challenged him for cycling on the pavement without lights, and described the attack as picking on an old man.
The incident happened at about 6.30pm on 29 October 2025, as Starbuck waited for a bus near a Tesco. After the collision, Starbuck got up and put Childe in a headlock, but Childe threw him to the ground before fleeing; Starbuck suffered a cardiac arrest and died in hospital. A pathologist said the arrest was attributable to the attack, despite Starbuck having an underlying heart condition, and his family described their loss as distressing.
In short
- Thomas Childe was jailed for six years and eight months.
- He admitted killing Colin Starbuck, 79, by manslaughter.
- The judge said the cyclist deliberately targeted the pensioner.
Explained simply
Garforth is a town in West Yorkshire, near Leeds. Pavements are intended for people on foot, while cyclists are generally expected to use the road or a cycle path; riding without lights can also make a cyclist harder to see in the evening.
Colin Starbuck was 79 and waiting for a bus when he challenged Thomas Childe about cycling on the pavement without lights. The two men then clashed, and Starbuck died in hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest.
Manslaughter is a criminal offence involving an unlawful killing where the prosecution does not have to prove murder. The case raised questions about responsibility for violence and the consequences of a fatal assault, including where the person who died had an existing health condition.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Killer cyclist who ‘picked on an old man’ by ramming his bike into pensioner after being told off for riding on pavement jailed for over six years”.