A MOTORIST who drove into a man as he drove into a petrol station in Chard has been fined by magistrates.

Somerset Magistrates were told that after causing a glancing blow to Eduardo Garcia, Anthony John Finn drove on to the pumps and filled his car with fuel.

As a result of the incident, Mr Garcia suffered bruising to his kidneys and lower back area.

Finn, 56, of Mintons, Chard, admitted driving a vehicle onto Central Motors in Chard (Esso garage) without due care and attention on December 15.

Julyan Stephens, prosecuting, said Finn was driving his vehicle at the same time Eduardo Garcia, was walking towards the town centre on the pavement.

Mr Stephens said: “When he was near the forecourt of the Esso garage the defendant accepted his attention was drawn more to getting off the road and did not see the man. Finn was turning right into the garage and there was a glancing blow to the victim in the process.”

Defending solicitor Sam Morton said Finn did not realise he had done anything wrong at all at the time, and added: “He then just drove on and filled up his car with fuel and went to pay for it but the victim did not ask for his details at the scene.”

He added Finn had been driving for 26 years without any accidents and had a clean licence Magistrates fined the defendant £213 and also ordered him to pay £85 costs and a £30 surcharge.