‘Careless’ Speen motorist Michael Clark sentenced for severely injuring cyclist Ian Catt in Hungerford

A MOTORIST has been sentenced for careless driving in Hungerford High Street, which left a cyclist severely injured.

Victim Ian Catt suffered suffered fractures to his right eye socket, to his right cheek bone, to his right collar bone and internal injuries to his right kidney and adrenal gland.

Multiple fragments of shattered bone were found in his right cheek.

At a previous hearing, Reading magistrates heard how Michael Clark of Kersey Crescent, Speen, had been driving his Ford Mondeo car on November 18, 2022 when he performed a dangerous manoeuvre that left Mr Catt seriously injured.

The court heard the 31-year-old was pulling out of a parking space outside the Co-op when he heard a bang to the rear of his vehicle.

Magistrates adjourned the case for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.

At a sentencing hearing on Wednesday, October 16, Emily Hodge, prosecuting, said Mr Catt had had to be referred to specialist medical teams for treatment.

She stressed that, although it had been dark, the bike had lights and Mr Catt had been wearing reflective clothing plus a head torch.

Clark admitted causing serious injury by careless driving.

He has six previous convictions, some of which are driving related, the court heard.

Adonis Daniel, defending, said: “This isn’t your normal situation where the driver of a vehicle has collided with a cyclist; he [Mr Catt] has collided with the back of Mr Clark’s vehicle.

“If this was a civil court there would be some element of contributory negligence.”

He added: “You must also take on board that it’s now nearly two years since the incident; I’ve no idea why it took police all this time to charge this matter.”

Mr Daniel also pointed out that his client had not fled the scene but had stayed to offer help to Mr Catt.

The court heard Clark had lost his former employment due to an interim driving ban following the previous hearing in September but had since found a new job as a bricklayer.

Magistrates told Clark: “It’s quite clear that your judgement and attention differed from that of a normal, careful driver.”

However, they acknowledged that the pre-sentence report noted he was remorseful.

Clark was made subject to a 12 month community order.

In addition he was ordered to complete 80 hours of unpaid community work.

Next, he was ordered to pay £85 costs plus a statutory victim services surcharge of £114.

Finally, Clark was banned from driving for 12 months.