Pensioner who knocked over cyclist, fined £500

A pensioner who knocked over a cyclist, leaving her with multiple fractures, has been fined £500.

Michael Reginald John Fuller of Ballagarey Road in Glen Vine appeared before magistrates at Douglas Courthouse.

The 71 year old had initially denied causing serious bodily harm by driving without due care and attention but changed his plea to guilty a day before his case was due to go to trial.

Prosecutor Hazel Carroon told the hearing he’d hit the woman as he turned right in his BMW X3 into a recycling depot on Old Church Road in Crosby at around midday on December 29, 2020.

She spent a week in hospital and needed physiotherapy after breaking her arm, wrist and thigh.

Fuller told police he’d been driving at 5mph and the sun had been in his eyes, but denied driving poorly.

The court heard he volunteered to drive for a charity and had no previous convictions.

As well as fining him, magistrates ordered him to pay £2,000 compensation to the woman and serve a 12-month driving ban.