A MAN was "pinned" against a wall by an elderly motorist who struck him while driving down a narrow alleyway in Windermere, a court heard. 

Pensioner Alexander McGlasson, 84, was told by a judge he had committed a "significant error of judgement" having injured Barrie French on November 21 last year.

Just yards from his Courtyard Cottage Antiques business, Mr French tried to jump away from McGlasson's Honda Accord as it travelled down a passageway. However, the vehicle hit his leg and also caused pain to the pedestrian's elbow, shoulder and wrist. 

At Carlisle Crown Court yesterday, McGlasson, of Main Road, Windermere, pleaded guilty to a careless driving charge. An advanced motorist and a man of previous good character, he was fined £300 and given six penalty points by Recorder Kevin Grice. McGlasson must also pay £40 costs and a £30 surcharge. 

The court heard that as the Honda travelled towards him, Mr French thought it would stop. But it did not and he was struck on his right knee by the vehicle. 

David Clarke, prosecuting, said: "The wing mirror also clipped his arm and effectively pinned him against the wall." CCTV footage of the brief incident was played to the court, which heard there had been "difficulty" between McGlasson and Mr French over previous years about parking in the area. 

Chris Evans, defending, said McGlasson had told police of his regret when he was interviewed. "He knows he shouldn't have driven straight on. Fortunately the injuries were slight. It could have been no more than two or three miles per hour that the defendant was travelling in the narrow space," said Mr Evans. "He is not someone who has a history of driving in an erratic way, in a dangerous way or in a way that could be considered troubling or worrying."

But Recorder Grice told McGlasson: "In my view it is a very significant error of judgement in thinking there was room for you to pass by him without contact. 

"This was a misjudgement at low speed. Any speed was too fast in the circumstances. You should have stopped, you didn't and injury resulted."