A bus driver who deliberately crashed his vehicle into a cyclist knocking him off his bike has been jailed for 17 months.
Gavin Hill was shown on CCTV in an exchange with cyclist Phillip Mead before he turned the bus sharply into the cyclist's path.
The 43-year-old cyclist suffered fractures to his left wrist and leg, which needed to be plated, and to his thumb in the incident in Bristol.
The bus driver pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and causing grievous bodily harm at Bristol Crown Court.
Sentencing Hill, Judge Mark Horton said: "This was not an accident, it was an assault... deliberate dangerous driving.
"You used that vehicle as a weapon to bully and intimidate the cyclist who, in the end, was struck by that bus."
Hill was also disqualified from driving for two-and-a-half years and ordered to pass an extended driving test.
City council CCTV footage showed Mr Mead remonstrating with the bus driver before continuing his journey.
Seconds later, Hill, who had been driving for Bugler Coaches for 10 months, overtook the bike before veering sharply left knocking the father-of-two onto the road.
Mr Mead was treated by paramedics at the scene, where Hill was arrested by police on April 5 last year.
Bugler coaches fired Hill after the incident.
45 comments