Magistrates criticised as 'lenient' with £295 fine for OAP who crashed into cyclist

The mother of a cyclist who was hit by a car in Cumbria in August last year has criticised magistrates for being too lenient in his punishment.

Robert Harrison, 77 from Gloucestershire, pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention after hitting cyclist Adam McBirnie on the A590 at Rustland Pool.

The Furness Magistrates' Court heard that Mr McBirnie, who was 22 at the time, was positioned on the left of the road when he was struck from behind by Harrison's vehicle.

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Mr McBirnie suffered cuts, bruises and tissue damage all over his body from the crash, in which he landed in a lay-by. His £3,000 bike was also damaged beyond repair, according to the North West Evening Mail.

Harrison, who was not in court but pleaded guilty via post, said in a police interview that he didn't remember seeing the cyclist. He was fined £295, ordered to pay costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £30.

Mr McBirnie's mother, Pat, says she believes the sentence was "very lenient" and said the accident could have cost her son his life.

"Adam has been riding since he was 14 years old and he has never been involved in an accident," she told the Evening Mail.

"If he hadn't landed in the lay-by he could have been killed."