A SPEEDING cyclist put a pensioner in hospital for a week after he smashed into her in Burnley's shopping centre.

Kathleen Testa, 77, fractured her right wrist, had to have surgery and was left shaken after she was hit by Steven Hurles, 26, on his BMX.

Mrs Testa had been coming out of the Abbey bank in pedestrianised St James Street when she was struck on August 24, magistrates heard.

Hurles, of Lindsay Street, Burnley, was given a 12-month conditional discharge, with £250 compensation and £50 costs for careless cycling.

Catherine Allen, prosecuting, told the court Mrs Testa was in Burnley on her weekly shopping trip.

She was on the pedestrianised part of St James Street where she said she had seen signs banning skateboards and cycling.

Mrs Testa came out of the bank, stepped out on to the street and was hit very hard on her left side. She did not see the cyclist who seemed to come very fast.

Miss Allen said the victim immediately fell to the floor, landing on her right arm and could see from how it was bent it was broken.

Shoppers came to her aid and an ambulance was called.

Mrs Testa suffered a fractured wrist and had to have an operation to have a plate put in. She was also extensively bruised and was in hospital for a week.

Her son had to take time off work to look after her and take her to hospital appointments and the incident had left her really shocked and upset.

The court heard Mrs Testa used to be very independent but now no longer felt confident walking even to her local shops.

Police later spoke to Hurles who said he did not mean to hit or hurt the victim. Miss Allen said when he was interviewed,

Hurles said he had been riding to McDonald's and was going "really fast". He claimed he tried to brake when he saw Mrs Testa coming out of the bank but his brakes did not work.

The defendant admitted he did not think it was safe to ride really fast in a pedestrianised area.

The prosecutor said Hurles told police he was really sorry. He had said: "I wish it was me who had broken their arm."