An uninsured driver who did not hold a full licence has avoided jail after pleading guilty to dangerous driving over an incident which saw a cyclist deliberately knocked off their bike in Cornwall.
Connor Broad, 21, received a six-month sentence, suspended for two years, Cornwall Live reporting on the sentencing from Truro Crown Court.
Broad was driving with a provisional licence at the time of the incident, the court hearing that he had pulled out in front of a cyclist on Salt Mill Road, near the China Fleet Country Club in Saltash, Cornwall, at around 11am on 2 November 2024.
The driver then braked at speed and the rider pulled up to the car’s “nearside” window and tapped on the glass. CCTV footage from the scene showed the dangerous driver deliberately drive at the rider, causing contact between his wing mirror and the bike’s handlebar, an impact which knocked the cyclist off and inflicted minor injuries including scratches to his hand and shin.
In court, Broad’s defence admitted the incident was deliberate and the driver pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and driving without insurance. However, the defence argued him knocking the cyclist off was a “sort of knee jerk reaction” as he had his pregnant partner in the car.
The defence also suggested Broad was self-medicating with drugs and alcohol and was dealing with the bereavement of his sister, although there is no suggestion he was under the influence at the time of the incident. The court heard that Broad no longer drinks or uses drugs and wants to be a positive role model for his son.
Sentencing, the judge was clear that in the incident before the cyclist tapped the window, Broad had been too close to the cyclist and displayed a “reckless piece of driving”. He also questioned the argument that it was a surprise or shock reaction to knock the cyclist off, pointing out Broad did not stop to check if the rider was okay.
In addition to the six-month sentence, which has been suspended for two years, Broad was also ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and pay £1,000 costs. He has been disqualified from driving for 12 months.
18 thoughts on “Dangerous driver avoids jail despite deliberately knocking cyclist off bike after rider tapped on window to confront motorist for pulling out in front of him”
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Well, gosh, that’s an incredible coincidence
Just in time for his court appearance…
brooksby wrote:
so cycnical tut tut
The defence certainly dug
The defence certainly dug deep into Broad’s past to find excuses for his behaviour. He may have also still been resentful about he fact that he was only chosen to be a sheep in the school nativity play.
Presumably the outcome would have been different if he had driven into a car or pedestrian?
So concerned about his
So concerned about his heavily pregnant girlfriend he takes her out in the car whilst unqualified to drive and subjects their unborn child to swerving forces and a rapid deceleration event. Hmm.
Apart from the fine, there’s not a lot of punishment there. I wonder what conditions he would need to fall foul of for that suspended sentence to be invoked? Being caught at the wheel again?
The newspaper article gives his address as a small village. Maybe a Stava segment through that village called “Is Connor Broad illegally driving his white BMW?” is appropriate…
deliberately hit someone with
deliberately hit someone with a steel bar = assault.
deliberately hit someone with a steel car = not assault.
You can’t deliberately hit
You can’t deliberately hit someone with a car though – it’s always an accident, because driving is an involuntary act [is this right?]
I’m fucking astounded!
I’m fucking astounded!
How can someone claim:
When clearly they are not competent to drive and by driving with their pregnant partner in the car knowing they are not competent they are increasing the exposure.
That’s before you even start consaidering any intent of the action.🤯
Never confront drivers unless
Never confront drivers unless you can handle yourself. There are some proper loony tunes out there.
I’m not sure many of us can
I’m not sure many of us can handle a 2 tonne lump of metal driven at us. Perhaps you are Ronnie Pickering though?
mctrials23 wrote:
Who’s that then?
Rendel Harris wrote:
RONNIE PICKERING!
brooksby wrote:
Eh, brilliant, come on, fuck off Johnny Pickering. Someone famous are ya?
(No subject)
I wonder how many points the
I wonder how many points the judge has 🤔
I’m going to assume the judge
I’m going to assume the judge didn’t want to separate a father from their newborn son.
That said I’m surprised no driving ban: you can’t face exceptional hardship by losing something you never had.
Disqualified for 12 months.
Disqualified for 12 months. Perhaps you need to read to the end of the article before responding.
Yet another unfeasibly light
Yet another unfeasibly light sentence, what a surprise.
No surprise to me. Something
No surprise to me. Something similar happened to me – after which the driver got out of his vehicle and proceeded to assault me. He was (successfully) prosecuted for careless driving only – despite two eye witnesses who heard him say he hit me with his car because I called him a horrid name.