A PENSIONER has been saved from a driving ban after being described as a "knight of the road".

John Griffiths, 72, of Fir Tree Crescent, Tadcaster, pleaded guilty before Selby magistrates to driving without due care and attention .

He admitted colliding with a motorcyclist in Leeds Road, Tadcaster, on November 4 last year, while turning right into another road in his Toyota car.

Steve Ovenden, prosecuting, said Griffiths told police he did not see the motorcyclist after he had indicated and turned right.

He said the motorcyclist had suffered minor injuries.

The court heard that Griffiths did not complete a safer driving course after the accident.

But Gordon Richardson, for Griffiths, told magistrates that he had been unable to complete the course because he was too small to operate the car that had been provided for him. He asked the 5ft 2in pensioner to stand up to illustrate this point.

"He is so small he couldn't complete the practical test," he said.

The court heard that a driving ban would have a "serious impact" on Griffiths's life, as he needed to drive for his part-time job and to visit his mentally disabled son in a care home.

"He is not a boy racer, he is a sensible, mature gentleman - a knight of the road," said Mr Richardson.

He added that Griffiths had suffered "a momentary lapse in attention" at the time of the accident.

Magistrates imposed three penalty points on his licence and gave him an absolute discharge.

Griffiths told the Evening Press afterwards that he had struggled to reach the pedals of the car that had been provided for him.

"It wasn't comfortable at all," he said, adding: "I'm just pleased it's all over."

Updated: 10:32 Friday, August 06, 2004