A WORCESTER motorist who drove into a cyclist on a narrow country road near Pershore has been convicted of careless driving and fined £500.

Neil Gummery was also ordered to pay £100 court costs and had five points endorsed on his driving licence.

Victim Eric Gorton told Worcester Crown Court he was shunted three times from the rear and knocked from his bike.

He said Gummery, driving to Evesham to play football, was angry after seeing cyclists two-abreast in front of him.

The jury cleared 31-year-old Gummery of dangerous driving and assault causing actual bodily harm.

Judge David McEvoy told him: ''You ought to know that, had you been convicted of dangerous driving, I would have sent you to prison.''.

The incident happened in Abbotswood as civil servant Mr Gorton and two friends from a Malvern cycling club were on a 50-mile Sunday ride.

Mr Gorton suffered a chipped bone in his ankle after the fall and was unable to cycle or walk properly for two months.

Gummery, of Vincent Road, off Wyld's Lane, accepted that his Ford Orion's bumper touched Mr Gorton cycle, but insisted it happened because he rode in the centre of the road and kept putting on his bike brakes.

''A smirk''

His passenger Matthew Knight claimed that as they slowed down for a bend, Mr Gorton came alongside and banged the car window and the bonnet.

He insisted that Mr Gorton blocked the road, riding very slowly, and had a smirk on his face.

He said: ''Every time the cyclist put his brakes on, the car got very close. There may have been contact, I'm not sure.''

Rhona Campbell, prosecuting, had alleged it was a road rage incident because Gummery was "incensed and angry" at being delayed.

Defence counsel William Rickarby said Mr Gorton was on ''a personal crusade'' against the driver and had blown the incident out of all proportion.