A hit-and-run postal worker who mowed down a colleague as he cycled through rural Perthshire has been ordered to pay his victim £3,000 compensation.
Peter Burt crushed fellow postie Mike Haggart’s bicycle and left him “for dead” on a country road near Perth.
Burt, 53, drove his post van for a further 15 miles before reporting the accident to police.
The 56-year-old cyclist was severely injured in the crash and had to wear a back brace for three months.
Burt appeared at Perth Sheriff Court and admitted driving without due care and attention on October 15, 2021.
He also pleaded guilty to driving off without reporting the accident.
Sheriff Gillian Wade ordered him to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and pay compensation to Mr Haggart at a rate of £150 per month.
The sheriff further imposed six penalty points, meaning Burt can keep his driving licence.
He was told the sentence was a direct alternative to custody.
Self-imposed driving ban
Representing himself in court, Burt, from Crieff, said he just wanted to draw a line under the case.
He said he had not been back behind the wheel since the accident and had given his car to his son.
Asked by Sheriff Wade if he had read over a social work prepared on his behalf, Burt said: “I chose not to.
“This case has been going on for 10 months now, and I just want to get it over with.”
The sheriff told him: “It is clear that you are extremely remorseful about the way this happened.
“It is clear that you knew you had hit something, but it just wasn’t clear to you what you had hit.
“You didn’t immediately report the matter, and when you did it had already been reported.”
She added: “I appreciate that you are no longer driving as part of a self imposed ban.”
Driver quit job after crash
Burt was suspended by the Royal Mail following the crash and later handed in his notice.
Fiscal depute Stuart Hamilton told the court: “At about 5.30pm, the complainer left his home, activated his cycle computer and went for a bike ride.
“It was still daylight, however he had a light fitted to the rear of the bicycle.
“He was alone and not wearing a helmet, but he had clothing with yellow reflective piping.”
The prosecutor said for 20 minutes Mr Haggart rode along the Tibbermore to Balgowan road without incident.
“Several vehicles had passed him by safely,” Mr Hamilton said.
“He was then struck from behind by the accused’s vehicle, which failed to stop.”
Rescuers rushed to cyclist’s aid
He told the court: “The complainer was left lying in the road.
“At about 6.10pm, emergency services were contacted and nurse practitioners assisted in stabilising the complainer whilst awaiting arrival of an ambulance.”
The fiscal depute said: “Police arrived shortly afterwards. They observed the complainer’s bicycle badly damaged.
“Its rear wheel was shattered, and the back light was still flashing.
“It was the officers’ impression that the bike had been crushed by the vehicle as it was in numerous pieces.”
The court heard pieces of Burt’s post van were “ripped off” and left at the scene.
About 20 minutes later, Burt – who was 15 miles away – phoned police and told them he thought he might have hit something.
Around the same time, Mr Haggart was taken to Ninewells Hospital.
He was treated for a broken elbow, a fractured vertebrae, a cut to his head and sore hip.
“He advised police he is still receiving medical treatment,” said Mr Hamilton.
“The accused was traced and officers noted damage to his vehicle which was consistent with debris at the scene.”
Collision was ‘strange coincidence’
Mr Haggart didn’t know Burt, although they worked for the same company at the time.
“It’s a really strange coincidence,” Mr Haggart told us.
“I just remember hearing the noise of the engine growing louder and louder,” he said.
“The next thing I knew there was this almighty bang.
“I remember swearing and then flying through the air. It all went black when I hit the ground.”
Now back at work, Mr Haggart said he was recovering well, but may have permanent nerve damage on his hip where the van struck him, leaving a cricket ball-sized lump.
“He just left me for dead on the road,” he said. “He could have killed me.”
