Delivery driver ran into woman

A DELIVERY driver who knocked a woman over, fearing she would damage his car, has been handed a community order.

Vince Hibberd was parked in his Mazda MX5 near the McDonald's drive-through restaurant at Cribbs Causeway when two women approached and exchanged insults with his girlfriend, Bristol Crown Court heard.

Hibberd pulled away and struck Sabrina Gough, knocking her onto his bonnet and onto the ground.

She sustained a torn tendon to her left knee which requires surgery, the court was told.

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Hibberd, 22, of Blakeney Road, Patchway, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving in June.

Judge Geoffrey Mercer QC told him: "It was dangerous driving, no question about it. You struck this young lady and she was hurt, and that's a serious matter."

Hibberd was given a 12-month community order, with a three-month curfew and 100 hours of unpaid work. He was told to pay Miss Gough £400 compensation, banned from driving for a year and ordered to pass an extended driving test.

Mark Hollier, prosecuting, said Miss Gough and friends were in the car park around 1.30am, consuming food, and one woman with her was intoxicated and was sick.

He told the court: "There was an exchange of insults between Mr Hibberd's passenger and the women.

"The women went towards the Mazda. Mr Hibberd started the Mazda, turned the lights on and he drove two car lengths.

"He struck Miss Gough and she fell onto the bonnet, struck the wing mirror and fell to the Tarmac.

"He drove away but he stopped close by. She suffered quite severe injuries."

Hibberd told police he had no intention of hitting the woman, the court heard.

Mr Hollier said: "He was reckless, stupid and, as such, the driving was dangerous."

David Miller, defending, said his client would lose his delivery driver job but was fairly confident he could find other work.

He said: "There was an altercation. He was worried about the car getting damaged.

"His girlfriend was shouting and screaming at him to move and it was a spur of the moment thing.

"He is extremely sorry for what happened, an incident of stupidity and poor judgement."