A CYCLIST who knocked over an elderly woman while riding on the pavement has been ordered to pay £300 in compensation.

Mitchell Brewin, 37, pleaded guilty to dangerous cycling at Bournemouth Magistrates Court.

His 71-year-old victim, who spent five weeks in hospital following the incident, said she was happy with the outcome and thanked the Daily Echo for highlighting the issue.

The woman was on her way to Boscombe East post office when the accident happened.

She said: “The cyclist should not have been riding on the pavement.

“As a result of the collision I sustained serious hip injuries and had to stay in hospital for five weeks. I require a further operation in the New Year.

“I’m glad the man handed himself in to the police. I’m happy with the outcome at court.

“I would also like to thank the media, particularly the Daily Echo for highlighting the issue.”

Brewin, of Clarence Park Road in Bournemouth, knocked over the woman while riding on the pavement at Christchurch Road on September 16.

He pleaded guilty at Bournemouth Magistrates Court on December 12.

There has also been a development in the case of four-year-old Sienna Barnett, who was left with a broken leg following a collision with a cyclist last month.

Police have arrested a 19-year-old Christchurch man in connection with the incident, which happened in Southbourne Grove. He has been released on bail until the end of January.

Sienna’s mum Bonnie Hill said: “We’re delighted with this news. Sienna’s accident had a huge impact on all of us, it has been a very tough time for the family.

“Her leg is now out of plaster but she is still very restricted in what she can do.

“But I still see 10 people or more riding on the pavement every day and I know there will be another accident in the future.

“I just don’t know what can be done about it.”

And officers have also renewed their appeal for witnesses to a hit-and-run incident, in which a 40-year-old cyclist was left for dead.

Father-of-three Justin Graham was knocked off his bike on the Wallisdown roundabout at 5.25am on Thursday December 8.

He was left with two broken vertebrae, a broken bone in his hand and grazes to his leg.

Examination of a piece of the car’s front offside bumper, which was left at the roadside after the collision, has proved the vehicle was a Toyota Corolla manufactured between 2001 and 2004.

Police are appealing for anyone who knows of a damaged Toyota Corolla, or anybody who has been asked to repair one, to contact them on telephone number 101.

Inspector Matt Butler, of Dorset Police’s traffic unit, said: “Dorset Police treats all failure to stop collisions very seriously and we are determined to find the motorist responsible for causing these nasty injuries to the victim.”

Appeal to driver of Toyota

POLICE have warned the hit-and-run driver responsible for knocking Mr Justin Graham off his bike on the Wallisdown roundabout that there is nowhere to hide.

A spokesperson urged the driver of the Toyota Corolla to “do the right thing” and own up to the police.

“As recent investigations and news reports have shown, the traffic unit has successfully traced a number of drivers involved in failure to stop collisions across Dorset in recent weeks. We would urge the driver to do the right thing and call the police. The law is very clear – if you are involved in a collision you must stop and exchange details.

“If for any reason you are unable to report it at the time, then you must report it to a police officer or station as soon as possible and in any case within 24 hours.”