Off-duty policeman found guilty of dangerous driving following incident with cyclist

An off-duty police officer has been convicted of dangerous driving following an incident in which he mounted the pavement causing a cyclist to fall off his bike. Ipswich police constable, William Ormsby, was however acquitted of assaulting cyclist Ben Fosdike in the ensuing altercation.

The Ipswich Star reports that Ormsby was disqualified from driving for 15 months and fined £750 for what John Morgans, prosecuting, described as “a typical road rage example of dangerous driving.” He must also pay £1,000 towards prosecution costs and £75 to the victims’ fund, plus £383.48 compensation to Fosdike whose bike was damaged in the incident.

On February 14, 2014, Ormsby was driving along Norwich Road at around 2.15pm in a Nissan Micra with a female passenger. Fosdike, a chef, was cycling ahead of him on his way home from work. After two fire engines passed with sirens on, Ormsby was said to have passed Fosdike within touching distance. Fosdike hit the wing mirror of the Micra to draw attention to this.

The car then mounted the kerb and Fosdike, on his bike, collided with it. Ormsby, who said he was shaken and trying to pull over, claimed that he ended up on the pavement after pressing the accelerator of the Micra due to being unfamiliar with driving an automatic.

The prosecution said that at this point Ormsby got out of the vehicle before being verbally aggressive to Fosdike. Both men admitted pushing each other, before Fosdike said he would let police deal with the matter. Ormsby returned to his car, drove around 100 yards down the road, and also phoned the police.

A Suffolk Police spokesman told the BBC: "Following the conviction, Suffolk Constabulary's Professional Standards Department will look at what additional action may now be taken. The public rightly expects the highest standards from our officers, who should act with integrity and professionalism at all times."