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National

Alice Springs man who pleaded guilty to death of cyclist Stephen Yates eligible for release late 2023

The scene of the fatal incident near Alice Springs. (ABC News: Mitchell Abram)

Alice Springs man Michael Birch has been sentenced to five years and six months' jail for driving while affected by methamphetamine and hitting and killing cyclist Stephen Yates last year.  

Birch, 31, is eligible for parole in December 2023. 

He pleaded guilty in the Northern Territory Supreme Court earlier this month to dangerous driving causing death, and was sentenced on Wednesday. 

He also pleaded guilty to several other charges including driving under the influence of methamphetamine and non-commercial supply of methamphetamine. 

'Loss, grief and pain'

Mr Yates, 57, was the final cyclist taking part in a Saturday morning event near Simpsons Gap on March 6, 2021, when Birch suddenly veered his car onto the wrong side of the road and hit Mr Yates who died at the scene. 

The court heard Birch had smoked methamphetamine that morning and had not been sleeping. 

"You were reckless," Justice Judith Kelly said during sentencing. 

Birch hid a small bag containing 11 grams of methamphetamine behind a tree near the site of the crash. 

Police also found more than $2,000, a small set of scales and "deal bags" after arresting Birch, and the court accepted he had been selling methamphetamine from his home. 

Justice Kelly mentioned a victim impact statement from Stephen Yates's wife that spoke of her "loss, her grief and pain".

"[She wrote about] the great change in her life now that she has to cope without her partner, raising two children [and] of the loss suffered by the children who've lost their father," she said.

Birch received a 25 per cent reduction on his sentence for the dangerous driving causing death charge because Justice Kelly accepted he was remorseful. 

Stolen car

Birch was also sentenced for stealing a utility vehicle and obtaining benefit by deception. 

The court heard Birch stole the car and then falsely claimed he had purchased the vehicle in transfer of registration documents. 

"The ute has never been recovered and you never told the police or the owner what you did with it," Justice Kelly said. 

Birch was ordered to pay $10,000 to the owner of the ute within 12 months of his release from jail. 

He was disqualified from driving for three years from the beginning of his sentence, which was backdated to March 2021. 

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