Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

news

Drunk cyclist who fractured woman's skull escapes jail

Rider already banned twice from driving

An inebriated cyclist who collided with a woman on a zebra crossing and fractured her skull has escaped a custodial sentence

Last week Swindon Crown Court heard how James Reason, 35, was more than three-and-a-half times over the legal drink-drive limit when he crashed into 21-year old nursery assistant Cassandra Robbins who was walking home at 4am on February 19 after a night out .

Mr Reason of Warminster, who in January of last year was banned from driving for three years following a second conviction for drink-driving, was riding a bike with an ineffective front brake, no back brake and without lights, reflectors or a bell.

On a night when it was said to have been raining quite heavily, he struck  Miss Robbins as she stepped out on to the zebra crossing located at the bottom of a hill on Fore Street in Warminster. She was knocked unconscious and was bleeding from the ear

Miss Robbins spent two nights in intensive care. She was initially taken to the Royal United Hospital in Bath before being transferred to the neurological unit at Frenchay Hospital in Bristol.

Mr Reason pleaded guilty to a charge of causing actual bodily harm and received a six month jail term which was suspended for 18 months. He was also placed on a supervision order and ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid community service work.
 

Add new comment

8 comments

Avatar
londonplayer | 12 years ago
0 likes

I've given further thought to this case.

If he was a motorist, he would have got back on his bike and cycled home. When the cops call, he would say "I had a blackout and didn't realise I had hit anybody".

When the case came to court, the Judge would say "Your explanation doesn't sound very plausible but we have no evidence to contradict what you say".

Slap on the wrist etc.

Avatar
OldRidgeback | 12 years ago
0 likes

One of the comments on that article says, "I know him and he is a complete d***head. He should be locked up,"

It's good that the character is put in context so succinctly.

Avatar
handlebarcam | 12 years ago
0 likes

This was reported in the local press as "Warminster cyclist cracked woman’s skull." It would have been more accurate to say "Woman escapes death because idiotic drunk was fortunately not driving a car at the time." Not to excuse either the perpetrator or the judge who let him off lightly, but if people who kill other people with their cars get let off without any prison time, this isn't a surprising piece of sentencing.

Avatar
OldRidgeback | 12 years ago
0 likes

He evidently isn't safe to be let out with a skateboard, let alone a bicycle or, heaven forbid, a motor vehicle. His sentence should surely include some kind of compulsory rehab treatment. Unless he sorts out his drinking he'll probably be involved in subsequent offences with the result that still more people may suffer.

Avatar
west ham plodder | 12 years ago
0 likes

3 and a half times over the driving limit! I dont see how this idiot could ride a bike in that state , he should be forced to get help before he kills himself or worse somebody else

Avatar
LondonCalling | 12 years ago
0 likes

This is just a f***ing disgrace!!! It never ceases to shock me how worthless human life is in this country! People are jailed for damaging property, there is a national uproar when a woman dumps a cat in a bin, but somebody causes serious injury to an innocent person, and gets a slap in the wrist? How long until he kills someone??? This lady could have died.

The guy is obviously an alcoholic. Prison might be a good rehab!!!

 14

Avatar
mad_scot_rider | 12 years ago
0 likes

Scum-bag should've been jailed - it appears he has no idea how to behave regardless of what mode of transport he's using

Avatar
londonplayer | 12 years ago
0 likes

Oh, so that explains a lot. The bad cyclists are banned drivers.

Latest Comments