A PENSIONER will pay almost £1,000 to a cyclist he “pushed” over on a busy road leaving him with a black eye and stitches.

Hugh McDaid, 69, from Uffington Drive in Harmans Water, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm having confronted the undertaking cyclist on the morning of August 8, 2018.

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Reading Crown Court heard how McDaid “jumped out” of his HGV lorry, “spread his arms outward” and “pushed” the cyclist, Mr Valentine, who was “travelling at speed” on his bike as he was heading to work in Slough.

Following the crash, Michael Mason, prosecuting, said Mr Valentine was bleeding from his face, arms and legs and suffered abrasions to a knee.

The cyclist also had a black eye, needed stitches to the chin and fractured his sternum.

He needed to attend therapy after suffering from stress and missed two weeks of work.

Mr Mason said the cyclist “did not do anything to provoke the driver”.

Footage played to the court showed the moment McDaid got out of his lorry “to speak to the cyclist to prevent injuries” after Mr Valentine tried to “squeeze between his lorry and another car”.

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The court heard: “He didn’t think his actions were reckless — he had no intention of causing injury.

“He thought the cyclist made a dangerous manoeuvre.”

Defending, Lucy Tapper said McDaid was of “good character” with “no prior convictions” and this incident was “isolated”.

It was revealed Mr Valentine had said in a statement he did not wish to see McDaid go to prison.

Summing up, Judge Kirsty Real said: “Mr McDaid is not going to prison today.

“I accept you didn’t set out to cause harm to Mr Valentine.

“But it was a completely reckless act and Mr Valentine had to be treated in hospital.

“You have expressed genuine remorse and I see this has taken its own personal toll on you.”

McDaid was sentenced to a 12-month community order and will have to attend 15 rehabilitation activity days.

The 69-year-old will also have to pay £800 compensation to Mr Valentine and £420 in prosecution costs.

The sentencing took place at Reading Crown Court on Friday, February 7.