Motorist escapes ban after careless driving leaves cyclist with broken ribs

Tuesday 19 September 2023

A 57-year-old motorist who knocked down a cyclist and left him with seven broken ribs has been fined £2,000 but escaped a driving ban.

The collision happened at 06:30 on 17 February, as Michelle Ann Le Blond turned from the Inner Road into Rue du Galet in St. Lawrence.

Advocate Katie Ridley, prosecuting, told the Magistrate's Court that the cyclist had his bike lights turned on and was wearing a high-visibility jacket. Yet Le Blond collided with him as she turned and he fell off his bike and onto the road.

The advocate said: "He said he was feeling excruciating pain. He was taken to hospital by ambulance and spent four days there."

The cyclist suffered seven fractured ribs and soft tissue damage to his arm and shoulder. The broken bones caused bruising and lacerations to one lung, which became infected. He was only discharged by the fracture clinic in June.

Pictured: The case was heard in the Magistrate's Court last week.

Le Blond admitted the charge of causing serious injury by careless driving.

Advocate Mark Boothman, defending, said: "It is a very difficult junction. Anyone who uses it knows it as something of a nightmare."

He added that she had been suffering with stress as the case had now been hanging over her for seven months.

Relief Magistrate Sarah Fitz decided not to ban her from driving, telling her: "You’ve learnt a very hard lesson and I don’t think disqualification will help anyone."