A motorcyclist had to undergo surgery after he was knocked down by a driver who pulled out in front of him.

Owain Jack Wright, 23, told police that he mistook Oliver Pugh for a cyclist or a dog walker on the pavement before they collided on the A483 near Berriew on November 15, 2022.

Wright, of Berriew, was ordered to complete a 12-month community order and was disqualified from driving for 12 months after he pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by carelessly or inconsiderately driving a Vauxhall Astra without due care and attention.

The motorcyclist told Welshpool Magistrates' Court: "The saddest impact that this has had on me is that something I loved before has been taken by the actions of another."

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Prosecutor James Ashton said Wright told police that he approached the B4385 junction with the busy A483 and saw the motorcyclist, but as he pulled out, he tried to reverse but it was too late, and the motorcycle was on the front of the Astra.

The motorcyclist had intensive care for internal bleeding for four days in hospital and suffered a grade three laceration to the spleen, a fractured thumb, knuckle and ankle, and bruising to the lung.

A statement read out in court on behalf of the victim said he feels "extremely anxious" in a vehicle, even as a passenger, fearful that someone would pull out from a junction.

"I dream about it and I get nervous and scared," Mr Pugh said. The toolmaker explained that he suffered "great strain and worry" that he would lose his job after he injured his thumb which needed surgery to fix. He also wore a medical boot for his broken ankle for up to six weeks and had to wear a splint for his fractured knuckle.

"Due to the injuries, I was severely impacted and it made me feel isolated because I didn't go out much," the keen footballer added.

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"My main hobby is motorcycling. Since the collision I have not been able to enjoy it and it's something I no longer own and can’t see owning anytime soon. It has been replaced by fear of getting involved in another collision.

"The saddest impact that has had on me is that something I loved before has been taken by actions of another. I have not been able to replace that hobby with anything else."

Prosecuting solicitor Mr Ashton told the magistrates that the manoeuvre was unsafe, and the collision involved a motorcyclist who is classed as a "vulnerable road user".

In mitigation, Robert Hanratty said his client "would never have dreamt being in this situation", adding that it was a "momentary error of judgement".

"Our heart goes out to Mr Pugh; he wasn’t doing anything wrong whatsoever," he said.

"Owain thought it was a cyclist and pulled out and realised it was a motorcyclist and just about reversed but unfortunately the collision was unavoidable. He very much regrets the incident has taken place.

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"We are dealing with a young man who could be described as a careful driver who has had one error of judgement.

"It’s haunted Owain’s thoughts for the last two years. It's not acceptable for a delay of two years.

"It wasn’t risk taking; it was an error of judgement. His manoeuvre was a routine manoeuvre. Unbeknown to him a vehicle was traveling towards him.

"Owain has been driving for two years since the collision without incident."

Magistrates imposed a 12-month community order which includes 100 hours of unpaid work and five rehabilitation requirement days to work on restorative justice. Wright must also pay the court £199 in costs and surcharges.

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"I’m sorry to hear it’s taken so long to get to court," Rebecca Klug, chair of the magistrates' bench, told Wright.

"One of the reasons for a medium range community order was your remorse, previous clean record and good driving record."

Mrs Klug asked the prosecutor Mr Ashton to tell the police that the magistrates were "very unhappy" with the length of time it has taken for the case to come to court.

"It makes it more painful for all involved," she said. "It’s all about quick justice in the magistrates’ court. It’s just not on."