Taxi Driver Online

Drunk cyclist fined after crash into taxi



James McQuillan, who fractured a kneecap and broke ribs after drunkenly crashing his push bike into a taxi.

Published on Monday 6 February 2012 10:20

A cyclist needed hospital treatment when he crashed his pink mountain bike into a taxi as he rode the wrong way down a road at night without lights.

James McQuillan (38) of Kilham, Orton Goldhay, Peterborough, was riding along Morley Way, Woodston, Peterborough, when he lost control and crashed into the taxi on October 23 last year.

After the crash he was arrested and breathalysed and gave a reading of 86 microgrammes in 100 millilitres of breath - more than twice the drink drive limit of 35 microgrammes.

He also received treatment at Peterborough City Hospital for a fractured kneecap and broken ribs sustained in the late night collision.

Despite spending more than three months recovering, he was still limping yesterday as a result of injuries sustained in the crash.

Yesterday, he appeared at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court, where he pleaded guilty to careless cycling. McQuillan was fined £50, ordered to pay costs of £70 and a victim surcharge of £15.

Sattam Al-Mugheiry, prosecuting, told the court how the defendant said he had made the journey several times before, including while he was drunk.

He said: “The defendant was riding his pink mountain bike along Morley Way at night with no lights fitted on the front or the back."

“He rode on the wrong side of the road, and collided with a taxi."

“He suffered more serious injuries than the taxi, as the taxi is more robust than the mountain bike."

“The taxi suffered just a broken wing mirror."

“The defendant said he had drank a few drinks before riding the bike and was an alcoholic."

“He also said he had made the journey a number of times after drinking.”

McQuillan, defending himself, said: “It was a little bit silly trying to take the corner like I did."

“I have done that journey a number of times, but I was very silly.”

He added: “I fractured my knee cap, and had to be in plaster for 11 weeks. I have only been out of the cast for three weeks. I also broke some ribs.”

His appearance came just one day after he was fined £200 for shoplifting, when he admitted stealing eight cans of beer from a shop in Hampton, Peterborough. He was also ordered to pay costs of £85, a £15 victim surcharge and compensation of £13.98 for the theft

McQuillan had told the court he did not remember taking the beer from the One Stop Convenience Store in Hampton on October 21 last year, but admitted he had taken the beer.

The goods were not recovered by the shop.

At the second hearing, District Judge Ken Sheraton, sentencing, told McQuillan: “It is not a good sign when a judge recognises you in court.”

Source; http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news ... _1_3492191

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Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
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Amazing story this.

I always assumed there was a charge of driving a hackney carriage with intend to impede the progress of an intoxicated thieving cyclist with no lights riding up a one-way street.

Clearly the police aren't up to speed with the law on this.

wow the first time in history that the police haven't automatically charged the driver and not the cyclists the bad news is that I doubt the driver will get the cost of his repairs back off the cyclist sounds like he's a right alcy so has probably never got any money

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Perhaps he can shoplift a new wing mirror for the cabby.......

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

Maybe all Cyclists should have to sit a Cycle test before they use the roads, pay road tax and become at least 3rd party Insured...it makes sense if they want to mix it with the big boys on the road.

Some of them are just a menace..though some are very courteous...

The police may have been aware of the little known law as you state above but in this case they were correct because it was not a one way street. The road is 2 way but the cyclist was on the wrong side of the foad.

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Grandad,

Well spotted Grandad, but if you'd been really sharp you would have taken me to task because there's not actually anything wrong with riding up a one-way street anyway

Whats a foad ?

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

It's a road with a with a special lane for cyclists to use when the want to use the wrong side.

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Grandad,