A MAN who caused a cyclist life-threatening injuries has been jailed for three years and nine months.

Ben Lowe, 20, from Stock Lane, Ingatestone, pictured, pleaded guilty to GBH, dangerous driving, aggravated vehicle taking and using a vehicle without insurance in connection with the collision on February 28, 2010.

Basildon Crown Court heard Lowe took a Ford Transit van belonging to a family friend without permission, and drove to the Mountnessing McDonald’s drive-through on the A12 at about 6.30am.

Lowe was seen on CCTV nearly colliding with another vehicle as he drove off the forecourt.

At about 7am, Lowe struck Andrew Horner, 35, from behind, in Station Lane, who was on his pedal bike riding to work in Chelmsford.

Mr Horner was seen being dragged underneath the van for some 400 yards before the vehicle stopped. The van’s occupants were then seen fleeing the scene.

Cyrus Shroff, prosecuting, said: “Mr Horner, who was wearing a fluorescent jacket, had lights on his bike and was a good experienced cyclist who had taken part in many competitions, so he had good experience of the roads.

“There are many accounts of witnesses who say Lowe was driving erratically and one said he saw the van’s brake lights go off between eight to 10 times and knew something bad would happen.”

Mitigating, Martyn Levett said Lowe had no previous convictions and pleaded with the judge to show leniency.

He said: “He comes from an impeccable community and family and this is evident from his character references.

“He admitted to what he did and I would ask the judge to show some leniency.”

Mr Horner, from Brentwood, sustained life-changing injuries and had to undergo a number of operations in three different hospitals. He suffered a collapsed lung, a broken shoulder, broken teeth, a broken nose and severe lacerations which required skin grafts.

Lowe was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison and banned from driving for four years. He will spend part of his sentence in a young offenders institute and will then be moved to an adult prison.