Sussex Police are reporting that a driver of a silver BMW X3 who tried to intimidate a group of cyclists riding on the A27 between Eastbourne and Lewes has been ordered to pay almost £1000.
Oliver McDonald of Station Road, Hailsham, sounded his horn at a pair of cyclists and performed an emergency stop in front of them, forcing them to skid. He then drove off and passed another cyclist at speed just inches from the handlebars.
The incident was captured on film, and Sussex Police were able to trace the driver and charge him. Magistrates found him guilty of careless driving and fined him £200, ordered him to pay £650 in costs, pay a £30 victim surcharge, and had 4 points put on his driving license.
PC Nigel Dunn said: “Had the rider moved position in the road the BMW would have collided with the cyclist and undoubtedly caused fatal or at the very least life-changing injuries for the rider.”
“McDonald deliberately tried to intimidate all three cyclists and could have left any one of them with very serious injuries.”
“We will not tolerate any driving of this kind and would urge anyone who experiences it to report it. Don’t get dragged into a confrontation with another road user, get in touch with us.”
More information
More information on this can be found on Sussex Police’s website – Driver fined for intimidating cyclists on the A27 , and on the Eastbourne Herald’s website – Hailsham driver who intimidated cyclists near Alfriston ordered to pay £1000.
