A WOMAN who knocked a cyclist off his bike on a Hereford road has been ordered to pay over £1,000 in fines and costs.

Paul Jones was riding to work near the Grandstand Road roundabout with Yazor Road when he was hit from behind by a car causing him to fall off and suffer three broken ribs and a punctured lung.

Jacqueline Adele O'Neill, 54, of Highmore Street, Hereford, denied driving without due care and attention and claimed that Mr Jones had not been visible.

She was found guilty after trial in her absence at Hereford Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

Amy Davies, prosecuting, said that at 7.25am on October 17, Mr Jones has been riding to work towards the city centre when he was struck from behind a short distance from the roundabout and knocked off his bike.

Mr Jones said that his bike was fitted with standards lights, reflectors and reflectors on his spokes and that the natural light was just before dawn.

He told magistrates that he was wearing light blue clothing, a blue cap but no helmet.

Mr Jones described approaching the roundabout and looking right down Grandstand Road before looking left and seeing two cars at the top of the hill.

"From past experience that gave me enough time to go around the roundabout towards town," said Mr Jones

"It's a small roundabout and I'm always careful of cars not stopping. I went around the roundabout and started exiting and was five metres out of the roundabout. The first I knew about it I was flying through the air, I didn't hear breaking or anything and the car hit my back wheel.

"I was lying on the floor, I couldn't get up or move, I was struggling to breath and my head was bleeding profusely. My bicycle was under the car."

Mr Jones was taken by ambulance to hospital where he found to have suffered three broken ribs and a punctures lung.

He stayed in hospital five days before being sent home.

On interview O'Neill claimed that she approached the roundabout and gave way to a car before pulling out and hitting the cyclist.

She said the cyclist, which came from her right, didn't have any lights and she only saw Mr Jones when her headlights fell on him.

The defendant felt her driving was up to its usual standard and didn't feel it was reckless. She added that the collision was caused by the poor visibility of the cyclist due to poor clothing.

O'Neill, who wasn't in attendance at her trial, sent a letter to the court stating that she couldn't take the stress of the court case but denied the offence.

The letter stated: "Paul Jones lied about what he was wearing on the day of the accident.

"He was not wearing light clothing but was wearing a black water proof, dark clothes and not adequate lighting. He knew he wasn't visible enough. I'm known to be an excellent driver with nine years no claims."

O'Neill was ordered to pay a £400 fine, £40 victim surcharge and £620 costs. She was also given five penalty points on her licence.