Cabbie convicted of driving without due care or attention after mowing down 75 year old woman

A cabbie has been convicted of driving without due care or attention after running over a 75 year old grandmother, leaving her in need of hospital care for eight weeks.

Her injuries, which required four operations to fix, also forced her to miss a family holiday to Disneyland.

Cabbie Andrew Bailey was seen on CCTV knocking down Jennifer Kirkbride in his Ford Modeo in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne, on 31 January.

The court heard the 75-year-old was still in a cast and suffering from her injuries months after the collision took place.

Mrs Kirkbride's injuries were sustained in a split second as Bailey's taxi struck her as she crossed the road.

The driver told the court that he hadn't seen her because he had been "blinded by the sun." The 56-year-old cabbie said this is the first "accident" he's had in 20 years of driving.

Stephen Davies, prosecuting, said: "You thought it was safe to pull out because there were no vehicles. "For some reason you simply have not seen the pedestrian crossing - how didn't you see her?" He added: "You have had your eyes out for other cars and not pedestrians.

"You were not paying attention as you ought to have done."

Bailey denied the charges but was convicted at Newcastle Magistrates Court of driving without due care or attention.

The court heard how Bailey got out his car and helped the victim off the road and into a chair, but refused to take the blame for the collision.

The court heard the victim's pain had been compounded by Bailey's refusal to accept liability. Bailey did attend a voluntary interview with police, in which he refused to answer questions over the incident. As reported in the Chronicle Live, insurance companies dealt with compensation for the victim's injuries. As well as cancelling her Florida trip, the court heard the pensioner has endured blood transfusions and injuries to her pelvis, legs and arms.

The court also heard how the victim's daughter had been forced to quit her job to care for her. Bailey, of North Shields, was fined £255 and ordered to pay 200 costs and a £30 charge. His licence was also endorsed with seven points.

Image: Source; Pixabay