Video: Driver guilty of charges including common assault after knocking cyclist off bike

An Essex man has pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, actual bodily harm and common assault after he swerved into a cyclist, sending him into a set of railings.

The victim, aged in his 30s, was not seriously hurt in the incident, which happened on Friday 13 May 2016 as he rode with a friend along North Station Road in Colchester.

According to Essex Police, the motorist, Ashley Wallace Merrett, aged 30 and from West Bergholt, had braked heavily, with the cyclist then making a gesture at the driver.

Merrett then swerved into the rider, knocking him from his bike and he needed to be treated in hospital for his injuries.

The motorist drove off but was arrested later the same day.

On Monday at Ipswich Crown Court, he pleaded guilty to the three offences he had been charged with, and he will be sentenced in February.

Essex Police publicised the case on their Facebook page, together with the video, on their Facebook page.

However, the force has come under intense criticism this week for failing to charge another driver, also in Colchester, after an incident in which he used his car to knock a cyclist from his bike, then got out and assaulted him.

> Video: No charges against driver filmed knocking cyclist from bike and assaulting him

@EssexPoliceUK I try not to get involved in these but this being dealt with in the way it was was a real failure in your duty of care.

Evidence of dangerous driving and assault handed to you on a plate. Very sad.@2_Wheeled_Wolf @roadcc pic.twitter.com/nViVUeKmby

— Chris Boardman (@Chris_Boardman) December 18, 2017