A MOTORIST who crashed into a cyclist on a Carlisle road drove off without checking the victim was okay.

But a passer-by who witnessed the accident on Boundary Road, Currock, took the car's number plate and passed it on to police, allowing them to trace the driver.

At the city's Rickergate Magistrates' Court, 63-year-old Gary Dalton pleaded guilty to careless driving and failing to stop after an accident.

Julie Hansel, prosecuting, said the accident happened on November 24 last year as the defendant was driving his silver Chevrolet towards a roundabout on Boundary Road.

His car collided with the cyclist as he was pulling out on to the roundabout, said the prosecutor.

Mrs Hansel continued: "The cyclist ended up on top of the bonnet of his vehicle.

"This resulted in some injury - a swelling down to his leg."

Instead of stopping and checking on the cyclist, Dalton drove off.

The prosecutor added; "A member of the public provided the vehicle registration number of the car.

"Officers went to his [Dalton's] home address and he made a full and frank admission.

"During the course of his interview, he said he had pulled out but checked it was clear before pulling out."

After the accident he had panicked, and so drove off, he told the police.

"He accepted that he was not observant enough," added the prosecutor. "That was the reason he hadn't seen the cyclist."

In court, Dalton, of Chestnut Hill, Carlisle, said: "I'm very sorry about it.

"I'm normally very careful.

"It's just one of those things."

He said a driving ban would adversely affect his aunt, who lived at the other side of Carlisle and whom he visited most days.

A security guard at the city's Cavaghan & Gray factory, he also depended on his licence to get to and from work, he said.

The chairman of the bench told the defendant: "It was just not the responsible thing to do.

"In civilised society, you should stop immediately and try to sort things out."

Magistrates imposed a 12-month community order, with a requirement to complete 150 hours of unpaid work in the community.

The also ordered Dalton to pay £85 prosecution costs an and £85 victim surcharge.

They drew back from imposing an outright driving ban but instead imposed 10 points on the defendant's driving licence - two short of the number that would lead to a driving ban.