A WOMAN sobbed in court today as she was cleared of killing a Renfrewshire cyclist.

Jurors returned a not proven verdict against 21-year-old Jordan McDowall following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

Ms McDowall, of Erskine, was alleged to have caused the death of Kevin Gilchrist by dangerous driving following a collision in Greenock Road, Inchinnan, on July 28, 2018.

The charge included claims she was not paying attention while behind the wheel of her Ford Fiesta, went onto the opposite side of the road and hit the 51-year-old cyclist.

Ms McDowall, who had only been driving for seven weeks at the time, told the court she had "no recollection" of the incident and there was a "gap" in her memory.

After being cleared of the charge, Lord Armstrong told her: "As you have heard, the jury has acquitted you.

"You are free to leave the dock."

Ms McDowall broke down in tears and was hugged by another young woman as she left the courtroom.

Members of Mr Gilchrist's family were also in tears following the verdict.

Ms McDowall had stated during the trial that she was a "confident" driver.

One witness was said to have alleged her car was seen "veering" that day.

Prosecutor Paul Kearney QC asked Ms McDowall: "Is it not the case you were fully conscious but for whatever reason not paying attention to the road ahead?"

Ms McDowall replied: "No."

She added that the last thing she remembered was turning at a roundabout.

Ms McDowall denied a suggestion she was seen on her mobile phone after getting out of her car following the collision.

Mr Kearney said: "If the witness is right, it means you were conscious enough and alert enough to be using your phone straight after an episode of loss of consciousness and memory."

Ms McDowall responded: "I don't know what happened."

She had earlier told her own QC Brian McConnachie that she did not know how the crash took place.

Jurors heard how married dad Mr Gilchrist, of Langbank, died as a result of "serious injuries to the chest."