Simon Doughty Case: Drink Driver Receives 18 Months

 

Source: British Cycling

News Posted: 11 Jan 2008

 

20 year old John Bowman from Newton Heath has been sentenced to 18 months imprisonment for dangerous driving, after knocking down and seriously injuring top cycling coach, author and British Cycling Senior Coaching and Education Officer, Simon Doughty (pictured right).

 

Prior to his accident, Simon was a highly valued member of the Coaching and Education team, as well as being a professional cycling coach, author, long distance cycling expert and former CTC employee.

 

Simon was hit by a VW Golf driven by Bowman, as he cycled to his workplace at Manchester Velodrome on 26 October 2006. Simon's bike was thrown 100ft in the incident, and Simon sustained a broken leg, crushed pelvis and serious brain injury, which has left him practically wheelchair bound and in need of round the clock care. Bowman was more than twice the legal drink-drive limit at the time of the accident.

 

Bowman, who also received a further 6 months imprisonment for breaking an anti social behaviour order, has already served 270 days on remand so could be free in 3 months. 

 

John Mills, Coaching, Education and Development Director and Simon's former director said, "Whilst we welcome the sentence passed today this does not compensate for the effect the accident has had on Simon's life.  Simon was a highly valued member of British Cycling's Coaching and Education Team and the author of a number of cycling publications and coaching resources.  The fact that Simon is no longer able to work as a result of the accident is a personal tragedy, which has also affected Simon's family, colleagues and friends."

 

Related links: Manchester Evening News Article