A nurse has been fined just £400 for causing a crash that left a biker with life-changing injuries.
Harriet Fletcher, 39, pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention when she appeared at Swindon Magistrates’ Court this morning (Wednesday, 17 August).
Prosecutor Pauline Lambert said the defendant was travelling in her Land Rover Discovery on B4040 Malmesbury Road, in Leigh, on 1 March this year.
On her journey, she became stuck behind a slow-moving tractor. Without ensuring it was safe to do so, Fletcher turned out into the road as she attempted to make a right turn.
As a result, an oncoming motorcycle ploughed into the side of her car, with the biker sustaining significant injuries – including, most notably, a broken pelvis, a broken wrist in two places, a fractured finger and a lacerated spleen.
The court heard that the new offence of causing serious injury by careless driving only came into force on 28 June this year, meaning the defendant can only be sentenced based on the driving without due care and attention guidelines.
Her solicitor said if Fletcher, who works as a nurse and coronavirus vaccine vacinator, loses her licence, it would impact the wider public as she would be unable to carry out her work.
Labelling the case as a “really serious incident”, District Judge Joanna Dickens said that the victim suffered “life-long injuries as a result of this”.
She said it was a “really nasty accident” that “could have been avoided if you had taken great care when you drove on this occasion”. Adding that the victim was “there to be seen”.
Judge Dickens praised Fletcher for immediately leaping into action. “You did everything right afterwards… you used all your medical skills to the best advantage of [the victim]”, she commented.
The defendant, of Malmesbury Road, Leigh, was handed a £400 fine and six points on her clean driving licence. She must also pay a £40 surcharge and £85 costs.
Talking to Wiltshire 999s after the hearing, Fletcher said: “I would always say think bike; I feel remorse for what happened and I truly hope the biker makes a full recovery.”
