A COMMUNITY order and a ban have been handed to an Annan woman whose careless driving caused an accident that left a motorcyclist seriously injured.

The man needed a five-hour operation and spent three days in hospital after the accident July 7 last year at the junction of Lancaster Street and Crown Street in Carlisle, magistrates heard.

The defendant, 42-year-old Valerie Elizabeth Allen, who initially denied wrongdoing, admitted causing serious injury by careless driving. Prosecutor Peter Kelly outlined the facts at the city’s Rickergate court.

He said the accident happened at 3.30pm as the motorcyclist rode his 125cc west from Botchergate. At the time, there were roadworks which affected the eastbound traffic and the man rode along Crown Street at an appropriate speed.

As he moved towards the junction with Lancaster Street, he noticed a car stopped there and slowed down to 20mph. The Ford car moved slowly forward before stopping again. When he was 30 to 40 metres away, he said, he saw the car inch forward.

As this happened, he continued riding along the road but when he was five metres from the car, without warning, it pulled out in front of his motorbike. He was thrown on to the windscreen before tumbling on to the ground.

The man suffered a broken elbow, which needed five hours of surgery, said Mr Kelly.

As well as spending three nights in hospital, the man, who said he got amazing support at the scene of the accident, had his arm in a cast for six weeks.

He has also been told he needs extensive physiotherapy but in future years the injury will probably cause arthritis. When she was interviewed, the defendant, of Hillview Crescent, Annan, denied being careless.

She said the signage at the accident scene made her believe Crown Street to her right was completely closed. As she made her manoeuvre, pulling out of the junction, she was suddenly confronted by the motorcyclist.

“It was an extremely unfortunate accident,” she said, blaming what she said was “confusing” signage and obstructions.

Allen said she believed she drove with the appropriate care. She added that she was on her way to a hairdresser appointment but not in a rush and not distracted, though she later admitted the offence.

After hearing the details, magistrates imposed a 12-month community order with 60 hours of unpaid work. The defendant was given a 12-month driving ban. She must also pay £85 costs and a £114 victim surcharge.