cyclist lost her foot.

Ball, 31, lost control of his company van on Middle Road, Devonshire and hit a motorbike ridden by Garita Jennings, of North Shore Road, Pembroke, Magistrates' Court heard yesterday. She had to have her foot amputated.

Sgt. Earl Kirby, prosecuting, said that at 10.55 a.m. on November 6 the road was still wet after a shower. Ball applied the brakes of the van he was driving and started to slide. He lost control, went onto the wrong side of the road and collided with the bike, which was going in the opposite direction.

Both vehicles were badly damaged and Jennings's right foot was amputated from above the ankle.

Ball, of Sandymount Lane, Warwick, admitted driving without due care and attention.

Mr. John Cooper, defending, said Ball had been travelling down a hill. "It was a case of going too fast for the conditions, seeking to brake and losing control of the van. Mr. Ball has been fully co-operative with his employers, the insurers, myself and the Police and I ask that you deal with him leniently.'' A civil claim is expected.

Sentencing, magistrate the Wor. John Judge said: "I suppose it would be too much to ask commercial firms to drive vans with anti-locking brake systems.''