A PERTH motorist whose careless driving led to a woman pedestrian suffering a broken arm, pelvis and knee was yesterday fined £400 at Perth Sheriff Court.

George Duncan (61), of Neave Court, admitted that on June 26 in Edinburgh Road, Perth, he drove a car carelessly by losing control of it, mounting the pavement and driving on a grass verge. The car struck a bin, then a woman, who suffered serious injuries.

Depute fiscal Janine Bates told the court Duncan was driving along Edinburgh Road at 2.20pm in his black Nissan Qashqai when his back-seat passenger told him there was a Chinese circus taking place on the nearby South Inch.

“The accused turned around to speak to her and Duncan lost control of the car,” she said. “He mounted the pavement, drove along a grass verge, struck a rubbish bin and struck a woman pedestrian.”

The court heard the car then overturned before coming to rest on the road.

The woman was taken to Ninewells Hospital, where it was found that she had sustained a broken arm, pelvis, leg and knee.

She later underwent surgery for a metal plate to be inserted into her arm and was receiving physiotherapy at Perth Royal Infirmary.

Miss Bates said it was not clear whether there would be any permanent long-term damage to her arm as a result of the crash.

Duncan’s solicitor said his client had been distracted when the passenger had mentioned the Chinese circus.

“My client was driving his car, which is automatic, when he was distracted and he ended up with the vehicle swerving across the road,” he said.

“He banged his head on the side window.”

Duncan also received nine penalty points.