Audi driver who hit young girl off bike mistook her for lamp post

A driver knocked a girl off her bicycle and into a hedge while reversing into a driveway and drove away unaware of what he had done, a court heard.

Norwich Magistrates Court heard on February 25 Harrison Taylor had been reversing his Audi into his mother-in-law's driveway in Thetford.

The 25-year-old struck a young girl, knocking her off her bicycle and into a hedge, causing "cuts and bruises", the court heard.

Mel Read, prosecuting for Norfolk Police, said: "The defendant reversed into the front of a driveway without significant observation, and failed to see a child riding a pedal cycle.

"He has collided with her and knocked her into a hedge, causing minor injuries."

James Landles, mitigating for Taylor, said he had been aware of an impact, but assumed he had struck his mother's car or a lamp post.

He said Taylor had been unable to afford the driver improvement course so had ended up in court.

"He is mortified to be here today," he said.

"He and his partner had been turfed out of their property at this time and he was asking for a week's extension. Sadly, he was not offered the course and the next thing he received was a court summons.

"He was driving a car he is used to and his mother lives on the road where the accident occurred.

"He did not see the girl."

He added the witness to the crash - a driving instructor - was asked by police who she thought was at fault for the accident.

"She says it was the child, not the driver of the vehicle," said Mr Landles.

"He did not know he had caused the child to come off her bike. There was an awareness of an impact to which he didn't see anything, checked his mirrors, and drove away."

As soon as his mother-in-law called to tell him what had happened, he reported it to the police station, he added.

Taylor, of Whepstead Road, Hawstead, Bury St Edmunds, was given five points on his previously clean licence.

He was also fined £266, with a £30 victim surcharge and £100 costs.