A British bus driver who used his bus like a “weapon” to knock a cyclist to the ground last year has been jailed for 17 months, a court official said.
Gavin Hill was shown on CCTV in an exchange with cyclist Phillip Mead before he lurched the bus sharply into the cyclist’s path in Bristol throwing him from his bike.
The incident, which happened just off the St James Barton, left the 43-year-old cyclist with fractures to his left wrist and leg, which needed to be plated, and to his thumb.
Hill (29), of Slipps Close, Frome, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and causing grievous bodily harm at Bristol Crown Court.
Sentencing the bus driver yesterday, Judge Mark Horton said: “This was not an accident, it was an assault, deliberate dangerous driving.
“You used that vehicle as a weapon to bully and intimidate the cyclist who, in the end, was struck by that bus.”
Hill was disqualified from driving for two-and-a-half years and ordered to pass an extended driving test.
City council CCTV footage showed Mr Mead remonstrating with the bus driver before continuing his journey.
Seconds later, Hill, who had been been driving for Bugler Coaches for 10 months, overtook the bike before veering sharply right knocking the father-of-two onto the road.
Mr Mead was treated by paramedics at the scene, where Hill was arrested by police on April 5th last year.
PA