Man drove into cyclist at junction

A DRIVER carelessly crashed into a cyclist, causing a life-threatening brain injury.

- STAFF REPORTER

Nicholas Ward, 57, did not "look properly" at a junction, where he drove his Audi A6 into a 40-year-old teacher.

Newport Crown Court heard dad-of-two Jonathan Seaward was an "incredibly fit, able, and healthy man in the prime of his life" before the collision, which put him in intensive care for two weeks.

His brain injury has improved but "there is still a long way to go before one can confidently say he has recovered", said Judge Shomon Khan.

The crash happened at 9.15am on September 11 last year at a junction of the A468 in Bedwas, Caerphilly, as the driver and cyclist were heading in opposite directions.

Ward, a self-employed mechanic from Newport, was described by one independent witness - a driver who was one lane to the left of him - as failing to stop before crossing the junction and hitting Mr Seaward.

Judge Khan said: "Another independent witness was a couple of cars behind you and saw the bicycle. He was unsure but thought you probably did stop at the junction.