A motorist who failed to call an ambulance after knocking a Penzance firefighter off his bike has claimed he is being victimised in court.

Steven Smith 42, of Trengrouse Way, Helston, hit firefighter Benjamin Matthews from his bike onto the roof of his own car, but left him on the ground until a passing off-duty paramedic came to offer assistance.

Mr Matthews had been cycling to work at 6am when he was hit by Smith at Long Rock near Penzance.

Truro magistrates heard that Smith, who pleaded not guilty to careless driving but was convicted in his absence at a previous hearing, of did stop after the collision, and he also claimed on Wednesday that he had tried to call an ambulance.

Amy Edinborough, counsel for CPS, said a police officer found Smith after the collision. He gave a negative breath test, but was apparently in shock and not acting normally. He was having trouble talking and appeared groggy from lack of sleep.

Smith told him he had worked a full day the day before, and then worked on until 4am at a local nightclub. He had then driven to Marazion car park where he fell asleep, before waking up and driving off again.

He claimed Mr Matthews had swerved into his path as he drove along Long Rock Road at Penzance, and said the cyclist had been playing loud music in his ears, and was “like a ninja,” and “all over the place.”

Smith, who had previous convictions in the 1990s, said he was being victimised, and added that his insurance company had paid Mr Matthews £1,500.

Smith was fined £180 with £220 costs and charges and banned from driving for six months.