Killer of Ray Eden pleads guilty to manslaughter

The killer of stalwart Planet X employee and former UK time-trialling champion Ray Eden has pleaded guilty to his manslaughter, reports The Star.

Luke Jolly, 24, entered the plea at Sheffield Crown Court and has been remanded on bail prior to sentencing next month.

Ray Eden and Jolly lived on the same street and Ray died three days after suffering head injuries following an incident between the two near his home at Moat Croft in the Scawthorpe district of Doncaster as he left for work at around 7.30am on Friday 18 March.

Ray was described as a “gentle giant” who had run the warehouse at Planet X since the company was formed in the mid-nineties. He excelled in various cycling disciplines and represented Great Britain four times, won a stage and the points jersey in the Irish Ras race and was also a keen oarsman and member of Doncaster Rowing Club.

An e-book of condolence bears witness to just how popular Ray was among his friends and colleagues and how great a loss he is to them and his family, in particular his wife Gail and son Finn.

At the time of his death, Gail described him as an "outstanding husband, father, son, son-in-law, brother-in-law and friend, whose love, kindness and sense of friendship would remain in the hearts of everyone he knew.

“He touched the hearts of everyone who met him and he will live on in the happy memories he gave to others,” she said.

Images from his funeral in April when dozens of cyclists rode with the funeral cortege to the service at Doncaster Minster  are also available to view online.