Mansfield Town has announced that Lucas Akins is back with the first-team squad after being released from prison midway through a 14-month sentence.

The 36-year-old was imprisoned in April for causing death through careless or inconsiderate driving, involving the accident where he struck Adrian Daniel, 33. This incident occurred when Akins, driving a £200,000 Mercedes, failed to stop at a give-way sign and pulled out from a T-junction in March 2022.

Footage from Mr. Daniel’s head-cam, who commuted the same route daily, captured Akins slowly emerging from Crossland Factory Lane onto Huddersfield Road, directly intercepting Daniel’s path, leaving no time for the cyclist to stop.

Akins has now been released and will serve the remainder of his sentence on probation.

In a statement released Thursday, the club, competing in League One, mentioned that the striker had ‘rejoined the first-team squad following the conclusion of a custodial sentence’.

‘This follows a road traffic accident in March 2022, which tragically resulted in the death of Mr Adrian Daniel,’ Mansfield said.

‘The club wishes to express its deepest condolences again to Mr. Daniel’s family and friends. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragic accident.

‘Adhering to the values of rehabilitation and reintegration, the club believes that Lucas, having completed his sentence, should be given the chance to continue his professional career.’

‘Lucas has reiterated his profound remorse for the events of that day and fully recognises the enduring impact this tragedy has had on the family of Mr Daniel.

‘Mansfield Town has provided support to Lucas throughout his time in custody and following the conclusion of judicial proceedings, and will continue to offer appropriate support as he returns to the first team environment.’

There had been nothing stopping Akins from returning to football, although it remains unclear when he will resume playing. 

It emerged last month that Akins had been named in Mansfield’s squad for the 2025-26 season. The club said at the time they would not comment until his jail term had been served.  

Akins had his then seven-month-old and seven-year-old children in his Mercedes G350 Station Wagon at the time of the incident, as he took the eldest to a piano lesson. The player is still serving a two-year driving ban. 

The striker continued to turn out for the Stags throughout his trial in the spring, starting a match against Wigan Athletic just hours after making his initial guilty plea. 

Daniel’s widow of just seven months, Savannah, criticised Akins for failing to plead guilty earlier amid her ‘three years of hell’ in the wake of her late husband’s death. 

But she went on to stress that she did not wish to for Akins’ family to experience the same misery she has since Daniel’s passing in her moving victim impact statement. 

‘His wife and children shouldn’t have to live the life we have since that day,’ Savannah told the court. ‘We do not need any more lives to be destroyed from this.’

Akins received the support of Mansfield throughout the trial, with manager Nigel Clough providing a reference for the judge. 

Akins came through the youth academy at Huddersfield and made his debut for them in 2007.

His career has since taken him to Northwich Victoria, Hamilton Academical, Partick Thistle, Tranmere Rovers, Stevenage, Burton Albion, and latterly Mansfield. 

Mansfield are 12th in League One having won four, drawn three and lost four of their first 11 matches.