A driver who knocked a pedestrian down on a zebra crossing in Ryde, causing a fractured skull, has been handed 8 points on his licence – with his dog partially to blame for the incident.
32-year-old Matthew Littlechild, of Bellevue Road in Ryde, didn’t appear at the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court for sentencing on Tuesday but the matter was settled in his absence.
The court heard from Ann Smout, prosecuting, that at around 17:40 on 15th February 2020 – over 2 years ago – Littlechild was driving along Cross Street onto Union Street when he hit a pedestrian.
The male was thrown several yards and began bleeding. It was later discovered he had suffered a fractured skull.
At the time of the incident, Littlechild said he was sorry and that he simply didn’t see the pedestrian crossing the road. This was down to, he claimed, him and his dog breathing heavily which fogged up the car’s windows.
In a statement read out in court, Littlejohn said that he was driving home in bad weather and despite having the windows open and his wipers on, the car was steaming up. He said that the pedestrian was in his blind spot. A week after the incident he sold his ageing people carrier and purchased a new car.
Magistrates handed Matthew Littlechild 8 points on his licence – taking him to 11 in total – and fined him £120, as well as ordering he pay £85 costs with a £34 surcharge.
I thought you get 10 points for pedestrians.20 for cyclists.30 for total wipeout.;)..
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What is that all he knocked somebody down gave them a fractured skull so they could of died and his exscuse was a foggy window…..and only 8 points wheres the justice in that !!!
Omg that is just crazy isn’t it .
What is is name littlejohn or littlechild??? All the excuses he still knocked down a pedestrian on what should of been a safe crossing?? Luckily he wasn’t more seriously injured, and that’s the only sentence he got? Bloody disgusting, should of taken his licence away full stop…..
Absolutely rubbish.. You get 3 points and a £70 fine for parking on the White zigzag at a crossing…
Definitely not the dogs fault at all as the driver should be in control of ALL occupants at all times… Fine is way to lenient….
A total BS excuse, and he couldn’t even be bothered to show in court to face his responsibilities? Tells you all you need to know about a man. Another weak judicial response. When I rule the world this sort of nonsense from scrotes like this would be a very very lengthy ban and confiscation of the vehicle.
Is this man a friend of the magistrates? Carried on driving when he couldn’t see out the windows and blames his dog and nearly kills someone, didn’t even lose his licence.
Should loose his licence. Driving is a privileged not a right. A privileged earned buy playing by the rules and ensuring you and your car is legal.
If you can’t see properly through the window of the car you’re driving (you know, the bit that you need to actually see where you’re going), you pull over and fix the problem before proceeding.
It takes 1 minute to wipe down the inside of a windscreen.
Your windows won’t mist-up after being wiped down, if the windows are open thereafter.
Wilful carelessness should be prosecuted in this instance.