An 80-year-old driver caused serious injury to a retired University of Bath professor after knocking him off his bike, city magistrates heard.
Appearing in court on Monday 20th April, Stuart Ball admitted that he had driven his red Nissan too close to the cyclist on Frome Road in Bath.
Prosecuting, Paul Kelly said Ball did not leave the required 1.5 metres and his wing mirror hit the bike’s handlebars while overtaking.
The court saw CCTV footage of the collision on 24th September last year, which sent 70-year-old Professor Ronald Jones flying into the air.
His head hit the ground and fortunately he was wearing a helmet, although it was damaged. Prof Jones recalled “intense pain” in his lower back and pelvis and spent three weeks in hospital as a result of his injuries.
The court heard that previously he was fit and healthy and enjoyed cycling and walking, but now has reduced mobility and his overall fitness has declined.
He still has neuropathic-related pain in his legs and suffers from low mood and anxiety. He is awaiting the outcome of further spinal investigations.
Mr Kelly did not ask the magistrates to consider making Ball pay compensation to Prof Jones, saying the cyclist would be “fully compensated” through insurance.
Ball, of Prospect Road in Severn Beach in South Gloucestershire, is a former HGV driver. His solicitor Maxine Twynam said the pensioner had been on his way to visit his son, who has leukaemia, at the time of the collision.
Losing his licence would be the “biggest punishment” as he would not be able to support his son, she told the court.
“He would like to apologise to the cyclist through me. He hopes he can recover and go back to doing the things he obviously loved to do,” Ms Twynam said.
Magistrates said Ball had watched the CCTV footage and understood the seriousness of what had happened, telling him: “There are consequences for the victim and you.”
For causing serious injury by careless driving, they banned him from driving for 14 months and fined him £1,384. He must also pay a £554 surcharge and £85 prosecution costs.
