Suffolk policeman William Ormsby fined after cyclist falls from bike

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-33725741

Version 0 of 1.

An off-duty policeman accused of a road-rage attack on a cyclist has been found guilty of dangerous driving.

Suffolk PC William Ormsby, 54, of Ipswich, was convicted by jurors at Norwich Crown Court, although they cleared him of assault.

The trial heard he mounted the pavement on Norwich Road in Ipswich, causing Ben Fosdike to fall off his bike on 14 February 2014.

Ormsby was fined £750 and told to pay £383 compensation to the cyclist.

During the trial, police statements taken at the scene were read out and the jury heard Ormsby believed Mr Fosdike was "all over road" and in his path.

'Pushing and shoving'

Mr Forsdike had hit out at a wing mirror as the policeman drove past because he felt the car was too close to him and he was intimidated, the court heard.

Ormsby claimed he was shaken up so he pulled over.

The car then mounted the pavement and there was some "pushing and shoving".

One witness to what happened told the court she thought it was "the beginning of a fight", while another said the policeman stopped just in front of the pram she was pushing. She branded Ormsby's driving as "disgusting".

At the end of the three-day trial, the policeman was also ordered to pay £1,000 in prosecution costs and was banned from driving for 15 months.

He will have to retake his driving test at the end of the ban.

A Suffolk Police spokesman said: "Following the conviction, Suffolk Constabulary's Professional Standards Department will look at what additional action may now be taken.

"The public rightly expects the highest standards from our officers, who should act with integrity and professionalism at all times."