Motorhome driver hit cyclist with wing mirror after words exchanged at traffic lights, court told

A motorhome driver involved in an exchange of words with a cyclist at traffic lights shortly after overtaking a group of riders at speed subsequently hit him with his wing mirror, a court has heard.

Appearing at South Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court, 66-year-old George Racz from Glossop pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention, reports Derbyshire Live.

The incident happened on Chatsworth Road, Chesterfield, at 9.30am on Saturday 4 August 2018, said Lynn Bickley, prosecuting.

"The defendant was driving a motorhome vehicle and the victim was on a push-bike,” she said.

"There were seven cyclists in total. There were four cyclists in front of the victim and two behind."

She said that according to the victim, Racz had been "honking his horn" before "flying past" him.

"They came to some lights and the motor home came to a stop at the lights.

"The cyclist accepts he swore at the defendant, saying 'what a f*ck*ng waste of time that was'.

"The defendant was shouting and swearing back at him."

Subsequently, Racz hit the back of the victim’s head with the wing mirror of his motorhome.

The cyclist, who had been wearing a helmet, was left feeling “dizzy,” and was checked over at hospital and given the all-clear.

Speaking in mitigation on behalf of Racz, Thomas Wild said: "The defendant is a cyclist himself. He sounded his horn on his approach to let them know of his presence."

Racz, who already had six points on his driving licence, was fined £500 by District Judge Jonathan Taaffe and ordered to pay £200 costs and a £50 victim surcharge. He was also given five more penalty points.