Vicar is taken off road after hitting bystander in Stourbridge

Reverend John Bennett, aged 76, had left his automatic car in reverse gear with the handbrake on in Birmingham Road, Stourbridge, on July 16.

The car was parked alongside a number of other cars beside a rubbish skip. Mrs Lynda Gudgeon, prosecuting, said: "When he got inside, he planted his foot down and the car mounted the footpath.

"It trapped Diana Horton between the skip and a barrier and he had his foot down for about 10 seconds.

"Mrs Horton was hit and trapped against the barrier by the reversing car."

She suffered soft tissue damage to her leg, spent five weeks on crutches.

Mrs Gudgeon added: "The accident was aggravated by the defendant's disability and lack of mobility. He had difficulty comprehending that he'd been in an accident and he was confused."

Bennett, of Quarry Road Dudley, appeared before magistrates supported by a crutch and struggling to hear from the back of the court room. He had pleaded guilty to careless driving at a previous hearing.

Bennett told the Dudley magistrates: "It is the first time in 65 years that I've parked my vehicle – an automatic – and left my engine running and left it in gear.

"I got in the car and should have turned it off but my left foot went to the accelerator. It was as much a shock to me as anyone else."

He pleaded with magistrates not to take his driving licence, saying: "It would cause a lot of inconvenience – not only to me but to the people I serve. And I'd have difficulty shopping."

Magistrates gave Bennett a six-month ban and he was also fined £100. He was ordered to pay £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.