THE family of a cyclist killed by a Barnet lorry driver who was over the drink-drive limit and talking on his mobile say she was “unnecessarily” taken from them.

On Friday Dennis Putz of Colney Hatch Lane was jailed for seven years and barred from driving for life after killing Catriona Patel under the wheels of his lorry on June 29, 2009 in an act of dangerous.

The jury was asked to decide whether Putz's actions, including not looking in his mirrors to spot Mrs Patel, dressed in a high visibility vest, were careless or dangerous.

After the case, where Inner London Crown Court heard he had 20 previous driving convictions, Mrs Patel's family described his actions as “irresponsible” and said he “showed a total disregard” for other road users.

A statement said: “Catriona was unnecessarily taken from us on a warm, bright, sunny morning on 29th June 2009. We are grateful to the jury for recognising that these actions were dangerous.

“Their verdict and the sentence handed down sends a clear message that cyclists have the right to go about their journeys without fearing for their safety and that HGV drivers have a clear duty to drive in a safe manner using all the safety devices available to them.”