A MOTORIST who overtook a cyclist on the inside mounting a grass verge has been banned from the road for 12 months at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.

Steven Turner, 25, pleaded guilty to a charge of dangerous driving on the A701 Romanno Bridge to Lamancha road on May 9 last year.

Prosecutor Drew Long explained the cyclist was heading north at around 20 to six in the evening when she was “undercut” by a Mitsubishi pick-up on the left hand side going onto a grass verge.

The manoeuvre took place when a vehicle in front of Turner was overtaking the cyclist in the normal way and was captured on a vehicle video-cam.

He said police later traced Turner, formerly of Blyth Bridge but who gave an address in Barnstaple, Devon, who admitted he was the driver of the vehicle and apologised to officers.

Turner, who has just joined the British Army, said he had panicked during the incident as he did not want to collide with the vehicle in front of him.

He added he had wanted to stop and apologise to the cyclist but had carried on.

Sheriff Peter Paterson disqualified him from driving for 12 months and said he would be required to re-sit the extended test.

Turner was also fined £320 with a £20 victim surcharge added.