Cyclist who was victim of hit-and-run guilty of assault and criminal damage

A York cyclist who was the victim of a hit-and-run incident has admitted smashing the window of the vehicle involved with his D-lock after the driver refused to give him his insurance details.

Richard McDermott, aged 37, pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage and assault in connection with the incident on October 22 last year, reports the York Press.

The motorist involved, Ian Lowson, 41, was referred by police to a driver improvement scheme but faced no further action.

The incident took place at 6.30pm following what prosecutor Cathy Turnbull described to York Magistrates’ Court as a “stand-off” between the motorist, who was driving a 4x4, and the cyclist.

Both were waiting to enter the junction of Mill Lane and Heworth Green where temporary roadworks were taking place.

As they made their way through, travelling in opposite directions, McDermott was knocked from his bike.

There were conflicting statements from witnesses, with one saying the motorist had swerved to avoid a traffic cone and another saying that Lowson had speeded up as he drove towards the cyclist.

Police said that traffic cones marking out the roadworks may have led to confusion among road users at the location.

He failed to stop afterwards and McDermott, whose handlebars and front wheel of his bike had been crushed, set off in pursuit of the vehicle, catching up with it on East Parade.

Witnesses said they saw the two men shoving each other there.

Kevin Blount, speaking in mitigation for McDermott said: "Had he (Lowson) stopped at the scene, had he helped out, had he offered assistance, I am sure this would never have deteriorated to the level it did.

"There could be no conceivable way that the driver didn't know he had hit the cyclist."

"The driver clearly wasn't having none of it, clearly had no intention of stopping and no intention of putting right what he had done and provide his insurance details.

McDermott received a six-month conditional discharge and was told to pay the £150 repair bill to the vehicle.

Magistrate Malcolm Smith, chairing the bench, commented: "We feel there was a lot of provocation on the part of the driver of the vehicle."