A MOTORIST has been fined and given a driving ban after a serious crash in Weymouth involving a lollipop lady and three schoolchildren she was helping to cross a busy road.

Steven Dukes, aged 49 and of Portland Road in Weymouth, pleaded guilty to careless driving at Weymouth Magistrates' Court.

He was sentenced yesterday.

The lollipop lady suffered the most serious injuries in the collision, which police said was 'totally avoidable'.

Dorset Police said Dukes was handed a six-month driving ban, fined £240 and was ordered pay £85 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.

The court heard that at around 3.44pm on Monday, October 31 2016 a Vauxhall Zafira, driven by Dukes, collided with three 11-year-old schoolchildren and a 56-year-old lollipop lady on Buxton Road at the junction with Rylands Lane.

Witnesses described how the lollipop lady ushered the schoolchildren across the road at a designated crossing when there was a clear break in the traffic and that she was clearly visible in the middle of the road at the time of the collision, the court was told.

One of the schoolchildren suffered a broken arm. The lollipop lady sustained a fractured skull, a small bleed to the brain and a broken wrist. She is now recovering at home from her injuries. The other two schoolchildren escaped with minor scrapes and bruising.

The court was told that Dukes would have been travelling between 20mph and 25mph at the time of the collision and that he did not brake before he hit the four pedestrians.

Speaking after the case, Sergeant Joe Pardey, of the traffic unit, said: "Mr Dukes' careless driving that afternoon left a woman with serious, life-changing injuries. It is very fortunate the schoolchildren were not more seriously hurt.

"He failed to observe the road ahead appropriately and reduce his speed accordingly.

"This was a totally avoidable collision and this incident serves as a warning to others to drive carefully and considerately, particularly in residential areas."

Cllr Peter Finney, Dorset County Council’s Cabinet member for environment, highways and infrastructure, said:

“This incident highlights the vital job that our school crossing patrol staff do to protect children on their way to and from school.

“The Highway Code clearly says that school crossing patrols have a legal right to stop traffic for anyone who needs help crossing the road.

“Sadly, the behaviour of a minority of motorists at school crossings shows that not all are aware of the law or choose to ignore it. Doing so puts children at risk. It is motorists’ responsibility to be aware of crossing patrols and to stop for them.

“The patrol officer who was injured doing her job is a credit to us and we wish her a speedy and full recovery.”