£200 for a toe

Warren Chellar, 45, of Hornhill Road, Maple Cross, was found guilty of careless driving at Watford Magistrates Court on Thursday.

The IT worker, who a member of the Rotary Club, collided with a moped ridden by Michael Pyle, on Friday, November 30.

Chellar was pulling right out of Field Way, onto Uxbridge Road, in Rickmansworth, when he hit the former Westfield Community College pupil, travelling in the opposite direction.

Mr Pyle spent more than a week in hospital receiving treatment for six fractures to his foot, but despite the efforts of doctors at Watford General Hospital to save the teenager’s fourth toe on his left foot with a metal splint, it turned black and had to be amputated.

Builder’s labourer Mr Pyle, now aged 18, has not been able to play football properly since the crash, but hopes to return to the left back position for Maple Cross as soon as possible.

Mr Pyle, of Longcroft, Maple Cross, said: “I have got a little lump on the bottom of my foot. It is a trapped nerve that hurts when I walk and I cannot play football.

“I tried training but it hurts so I have stopped and will see how it goes.”

His father, Chris, 41, steward at the Maple Cross club, was pleased with the guilty verdict but felt the punishment could have been stronger.

“I have said all along we did not want him [Chellar] to get nicked, we just wanted him to admit liability. If you pull out you are guilty.”

“I have done the same thing myself 20 years ago and got six points and a £600 fine. I think this was a bit lenient.”

During the trial Chellar, who had a clean licence, said a VW Golf had slowed to let his Honda Accord out of the turning after he and his wife Lisa were on the way home from a Chinese meal in Mill End.

He said he edged out slowly and then further before hearing a “bang” as the Yamaha motorbike hit the front of the car sending Mr Pyle flying into the road.

During cross examination by Alan Burdis-Smith, prosecuting suggested to Chellar there was no “mysterious” VW Golf.

He said: “Where did the VW Golf disappear to? I suggest it never existed and if it had would have been where the accident occurred and the perfect witness for you.”

Mr Burdis-Smith put it to Chellar that the two lights he could see through the heavy rain and dark coming toward him from the main road were from Mr Pyle’s motorbike and that of his 16-year-old friend.

Mr Chellar said: “Those motorcycles when I looked right weren’t there. I would never put someone’s life in jeopardy. I wouldn’t pull out in front of a motorcycle.”

Delivering the guilty verdict District Judge Peter Crabtree, said there was no evidence Mr Pyle had overtaken the ‘VW Golf’ as put by Rachel Barnes, defending.

He said: “This was at night when the conditions required real care but you failed to take care that a competent or careful motorist would take. You and your wife mistook the headlights of the bikes as a car and I am satisfied you failed to maintain the standards required.”

Before sentencing Miss Barnes said in mitigation Chellar was a designated driver for the Round Table and asked the judge not to impose a driving ban.

Mr Crabtree said: “I do not take the view this is the top end of these particular offences for gravity. You have 30 years of good driving behind you and a person of previous good character who clearly contributes to the community.

“Your actions resulted in nasty injuries, but this won’t increase the sentence.

Chellar was ordered to pay £450 costs and £15 to the victim fund.