Taxi driver admits breaking woman's foot in road crash

David Ramsay turned into Binsteed Road in Buckland, Portsmouth, as the victim was crossing and hit her with his Skoda’s wing mirror.

She was knocked to the ground and Ramsay rode over her foot in the December 10 incident, a court heard.

The 50-year-old taxi driver stopped but then drove off, Andrew Newman, prosecuting, said.

He said: ‘The vehicle that Mr Ramsay was driving, his Skoda taxi, hit her with the wing mirror causing her to spin and fall to the floor.

‘During the course of this the taxi ran over her foot, causing, I’m told, a fracture break to the foot.’

The victim was with her boyfriend at the time and managed to get a partial registration plate number.

When Ramsay was told of the victim’s injury he was ‘visibly upset’ but said it was not his fault, Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court heard.

In police interview Ramsay confirmed the incident happened but said he thought his car had been kicked by the victim’s boyfriend.

He said he drove off but returned to the scene after dropping off his passenger at her home in a nearby road.

The court heard Ramsay said he told his work about the incident but did not report it to police.

Helen Wallace, defending, said: ‘It may have been a momentary lapse of concentration.’

She added Ramsay – who she said was driving at about 3mph – did not see the woman and it was pouring with rain at the time.

And she said when he got out of the car he was verbally abused by the boyfriend.

Ms Wallace said: ‘He did in fact stop at the scene.

‘The happened at about 8pm. It was terrible weather conditions, it was one of the worst days that we’ve had at the time.’

She said Ramsay was taking his passenger to her destination just a street away.

Ms Wallace added: ‘Mr Ramsay has accepted his culpability in respect of these matters.’

Ramsay, of Sedgeley Close, Somers Town, pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention, failing to stop, and failing to report an accident.

Sentencing, chairman of the magistrates’ bench Ian Swann imposed six penalty points for the failing to stop with a £125 fine.

Ramsay must pay £85 prosecution costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

But there were no separate penalties imposed for the other offences.