Bradley Wilkinson sentenced to 16 years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter over road rage incident

A man has been sentenced to 16-years behind bars, with a non-parole period of 12-years, after killing a young tradie in a road rage incident.

Bradley Wilkinson, 40, appeared before the Sydney Downing Centre for sentencing on Monday, having plead guilty to manslaughter in May.

Wilkinson admitted to arguing with 27-year-old Rhyce Harding in the moments before hitting him with his ute and dragged around 55 metres on Jersey Rd in Blackett in June last year.

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CCTV footage showed Wilkinson cutting off Harding after exiting a roundabout and not allowing him to merge before Harding stepped out of his car to approach Wilkinson just moments before being hit.

Wilkinson left the area before turning himself in the next day.

The sentence came after Harding’s ashes — brought into the court hearing by his brother Michael Grech — sat beside his four family members in the witness box as each spoke of the incident’s lasting effects.

“Rhyce would want me to forgive you, but I can’t and I don’t know that I ever will,” his mother, Stephanie Grech, said to Wilkinson in October.

The World Gym Marsden Park in Sydney has paid tribute to Rhyce Harding who died in a road incident. (HANDOUT/WORLD GYM MARSDEN PARK) Credit: AAP

Harding’s parents spoke in glowing terms of the compassion and generosity the avid kickboxer showed in his life and the high regard he was held by his friends, family and his gym mates.

“Rhyce was a much-loved member of our club, who will always be remembered for his kindness, humbleness and dedication to his training,” his gym said at the time of his death.

The public gallery in the courtroom was filled with his loved ones in matching T-shirts with a design of his tattoo to commemorate him.

“As a parent, you don’t ever think you’re going to organise your own child’s funeral,” Rhyce’s father, John Harding, said in court.

“Rhyce was the glue that held our mismatched family together.”

During sentencing, Conlon said he was satisfied Wilkinson “used his vehicle as a weapon” during the incident.

He will be eligible for parole in June 2036.

– With AAP