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Taff Trail cyclist seriously injured after drunk kicked out at himJustice (Lonpicman, Wikimedia Commons)

Taff Trail cyclist seriously injured after drunk kicked out at him

Richard Burton suffered broken collarbone and bleeding on brain after incident in March, court hears
by Simon_MacMichael
Wed, Dec 16, 2015 17:00
9

A court has heard how a cyclist riding on the Taff Trail in South Wales was left with injuries including a broken collarbone and bleeding on his brain after a woman kicked out at his bike as he passed her.

The incident happened as Richard Burton was riding home to Pontypridd from his work as a scientist at Nantgarw’s GE Aviation factory at 10.10pm on 24 March this year, reports walesonline.co.uk.

Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard that Paula Williams, aged 30, had stuck a foot out as Mr Burton passed her, striking his front wheel and causing him to fall off.

The cyclist, who also sustained damage to nerves in his left eye, had to miss a planned trip to Spain to celebrate his 50th birthday as he recovered from his injuries.

Williams, whom the court was told had been drinking on the day in question and has a history of substance abuse and mental health problems as well as a prior criminal record for public order offences, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Michael Hammett, for the Crown, told the court that two schoolboys coming home from football practice encountered Williams on the shared-use path and she asked them the way to Treforest.

 “She was intoxicated and slurring her words,” he said.

As Mr Burton approached, the youths suggested they get out of the way, but Williams replied: “I’m not moving out the way for no f*cker,” and kicked out at the bicycle.

Mr Hammett added that following Mr Burton’s crash, she was initially concerned for him and even tried to give him a hug, but then appeared to lose interest in him.

He added: “She asked the boys to walk her home and when they refused she said: 'F*ck this I’m off'.”

Richard Ace, speaking in mitigation on Williams’ behalf, described her as a “troubled woman.”

Judge David Wynn Morgan handed her a 32-week prison sentenced suspended for two years as well as a six-month 7pm-7am curfew, adding that the extent of Mr Burton’s injuries meant that had he been able to, he would have jailed her for two and a half years.

“He also suffered financial losses of £2,500, all because you lost your patience and stabbed your foot out because you could not be bothered to get out of his way along the cycle path,” added the judge.

> Sustrans reminds Taff Trail users of responsibilities

Taff Trail
Richard Burton
actual bodily harm
Paula Williams
Simon MacMichael

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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9 comments

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Fatfitter | 8 years ago
0 likes

Hi Guys, Im the cyclist concerned, thanks for your comments. The assault took place March 24th this year and it has taken this long to get to court I was just lucky the two boys witnessed everthing because I cant remember anything at all, I have made a full recovery , got my eyesight back about the end of June up until then I had double vision which was correcter by wearing prisms in glasses for that period, and the collar bone was a clean break, as it has been said on here she was not imprisoned I think because of the mental problems she has, but i think it was played upon, she pleaded guilty so the maximum sentance was halfed to two and a half years,

she was heavily pregnant when she was sentanced and has already had three children taken of her, she is basically scum, a drug addict and an alcoholic, her boyfriend was found dead of a drug overdose the week after this assault so it gives you some idea of the person. The reason I wanted to comment was mainly to tell everybody on here to promote wearing a helmet , I was wearing a Giro Atmos helmet and was only travelling slowly on a cycle path , but if you could see the damage on the helmet I am in no doubt I would be dead if I didnt have it on, that was on a cycle path as i say. You just dont know what situation you will encounter when you get on that bike, I know sometimes you think its nice to just wear a cap but think again, play safe and good cycling. 

Avatar
Carton | 8 years ago
0 likes

Wait, the substance abuse is a  mitigating factor?

What a time to be alive.

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morseykayak | 8 years ago
0 likes

This is a pretty sad story for the cyclist involved. Hope they recover fully.

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Airzound | 8 years ago
0 likes

Skockingly lenient sentence if even you take into account all the BS on sentencing. Would be better if the woman just took an over dose.

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Milkfloat | 8 years ago
2 likes

Stories like this confuse me.  I cannot see how the judge can make comments stating he wants to do more yet fails to use the maximum sentence available to him.  I can only assume there is more to these stories that the journalists do not cover as generally judges are not this stupid.

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Simon_MacMichael replied to Milkfloat | 8 years ago
0 likes

Milkfloat wrote:

Stories like this confuse me.  I cannot see how the judge can make comments stating he wants to do more yet fails to use the maximum sentence available to him.  I can only assume there is more to these stories that the journalists do not cover as generally judges are not this stupid.

Judges have to follow sentencing guidelines. A guilty plea, plus the history of mental illness (and I would imagine to a lesser extent the substance abuse) are mitigating factors here. I'm assuming (it's not in any report I've seen) that the judge is contrasting the sentence he would have wished to impose in the absence of those factors with the one he was required to hand down. Disclaimer - I'm not a lawyer ... but I do have a degree in law.

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multifrag | 8 years ago
1 like

Why was he been able to put her in prison? She had multiple offencess? How many times does this woman has to injure other people before she will be locked up or treated for her mental issues...

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dassie | 8 years ago
4 likes

So basically, don't get into trouble for two years and don't go out after 7pm.  Seriously?

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danthomascyclist replied to dassie | 8 years ago
1 like

dassie wrote:

So basically, don't get into trouble for two years and don't go out after 7pm.  Seriously?

 

Yeh - 6 months curfew. Most of which will be served before the clocks go forward and most people are indoors after 7pm anyway

 

Amazing, isn't it?

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