PENSIONER John Greaves was hit by a cyclist on a pelican crossing, a court heard yesterday.

Harrogate magistrates were told how Mr Greaves and his wife had been part-way across the A59 Harrogate-York, road near the town's Swarcliffe Road junction, when he was hit.

The bike, ridden by Lithuanian immigrant Ricardas Pamparas, had ignored a red light for traffic and narrowly missed a seven-year-old girl before crashing into Mr Greaves.

Pamparas, 22, a farm worker of Home Farm, Newby Wiske, near Northallerton, had been riding down the middle of the road.

Mr Greaves, a retired engineer, told police: "I was shocked to see the cycle coming towards me. He was going like a bat out of hell, I couldn't believe it."

Pamparas pleaded guilty by letter to riding a pedal cycle dangerously.

The court heard the bike had a faulty front brake which he had admitted not putting right after buying the machine four weeks earlier.

He told the court: "I didn't notice the red light. It was too late to stop and then I hit a man. I am very sorry for the accident and the inconvenience."

Pamparas was fined £75 with £45 costs and ordered to pay Mr Greaves £100 compensation.