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Cyclist jailed for pavement death | Cyclist jailed for pavement death |
(2 days later) | |
A cyclist who knocked down an 84-year-old pedestrian who later died has been jailed for seven months. | A cyclist who knocked down an 84-year-old pedestrian who later died has been jailed for seven months. |
Supermarket worker Darren Hall, 20, cycled down a hill in Weymouth, Dorset, too fast and rode on to the pavement, Dorchester Crown Court heard. | |
Hall was said to be riding "like a bat out of hell" when he hit Ronald Turner in August 2008. He died 13 days later. | Hall was said to be riding "like a bat out of hell" when he hit Ronald Turner in August 2008. He died 13 days later. |
Hall, of Weymouth, pleaded guilty to the 19th Century offence of wanton and furious driving causing bodily harm. | Hall, of Weymouth, pleaded guilty to the 19th Century offence of wanton and furious driving causing bodily harm. |
He was also banned from driving for a year. Hall had admitted the offence at an earlier hearing. | |
The court heard that on 8 August last year Hall cycled around a blind bend but was travelling too quickly to take evasive action. He told police he had been forced on to the pavement to avoid a swerving car. | |
The wanton and furious driving charge goes back to 1861 under the Offences Against the Person Act and reflects the gravity of the incident Sgt Tony Burden | The wanton and furious driving charge goes back to 1861 under the Offences Against the Person Act and reflects the gravity of the incident Sgt Tony Burden |
An off-duty nurse helped Mr Turner, who was taken to Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester with head injuries where he died on 21 August. | An off-duty nurse helped Mr Turner, who was taken to Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester with head injuries where he died on 21 August. |
In a statement, his daughter Gillian Muhl said: "The cyclist was described as riding like a bat out of hell. | In a statement, his daughter Gillian Muhl said: "The cyclist was described as riding like a bat out of hell. |
"Mr Turner's family are relieved that the whole episode has been brought to a close and urge all cyclists to stay off the pavement. | "Mr Turner's family are relieved that the whole episode has been brought to a close and urge all cyclists to stay off the pavement. |
"If they choose to break the law then they must expect to face the consequences of their actions." | "If they choose to break the law then they must expect to face the consequences of their actions." |
Speaking after the hearing, Sgt Tony Burden said: "There is no such thing as causing death by dangerous or careless cycling. | |
"There is only careless or dangerous driving which the Crown Prosecution Service thought because of the seriousness of the offence was too minor. | "There is only careless or dangerous driving which the Crown Prosecution Service thought because of the seriousness of the offence was too minor. |
"The wanton and furious driving charge goes back to 1861 under the Offences Against the Person Act and reflects the gravity of the incident. | "The wanton and furious driving charge goes back to 1861 under the Offences Against the Person Act and reflects the gravity of the incident. |
"This case clearly highlights the dangers of riding a cycle on a pavement. Adults should be riding on the road and if they are forced to go on to a pavement they should take extreme care and always give priority to pedestrians." | |
Correction 14 August 2009: An earlier version of this story, based on an agency report, incorrectly stated that Hall had mounted the pavement to avoid a red traffic light. |
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