A heavy goods vehicle driver has avoided an immediate jail sentence after he struck and killed a Ukrainian cyclist in west London, with a judge telling him he escaped custody “by the skin of your teeth”. Tristan Renshaw, 47, from Staines, was sentenced at the Old Bailey on Monday, 10 August 2026, to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years, and 150 hours of unpaid work. He had been found guilty by a jury of causing death by dangerous driving.
Fatal collision in Fulham
The court heard that Renshaw was driving a 44-tonne tipper truck along North End Road in Fulham on the afternoon of 15 December 2022 when he indicated to turn left and collided with 60-year-old Zinovly Savyulak, who was cycling in the same direction. Renshaw did not realise he had hit anyone until he was alerted by another person and heard the mortally injured victim scream. Mr Savyulak suffered catastrophic injuries and died at the scene.
During the trial, Renshaw claimed that poor lighting and the victim’s dark clothing prevented him from seeing the cyclist. However, prosecutors argued that Mr Savyulak would have been visible in the truck’s mirrors had Renshaw made proper checks. The jury rejected his explanation and convicted him.
Judge’s criticism and remorse
Judge Philip Katz KC told Renshaw: “I do not blame you for casting around for explanation for how this dreadful situation took place but it is unimpressive you did not face the truth. The fact is you simply did not see Mr Savyulak and that is not a defence. I am sure you made no final check in your mirror. You did not see Mr Savyulak because you did not check properly a final time before you turned left.” The judge accepted Renshaw’s expression of remorse but noted that he had already spent a month on remand, which should serve as a “clear message” of where he nearly ended up.
Victim impact
The judge paid tribute to Mr Savyulak’s widow for her “grace, dignity and composure” throughout the proceedings. He said the impact on her had been “severe”, not only because she lost her husband but because it had also “imperilled her means of survival”. In her victim impact statement, the widow said the death had “completely changed” her life, dealing with psychological and financial fallout. She added: “The defendant and his family are also facing major problems and are under a lot of stress right now. I have no right to judge anyone, because that’s life and we never know what lies ahead. That’s what the judicial system is for, and it will decide everything.”
Previous convictions and delay
The court heard that Renshaw had previous driving convictions dating back to 1997, including dangerous driving, taking a vehicle without consent, and driving whilst disqualified. He also had past problems with alcohol and drugs and had been diagnosed with autism and bipolar disorder. Judge Katz criticised the years-long delay in bringing the case to trial, calling it neither “justified” nor “acceptable”. Renshaw was disqualified from driving for 12 months.
