A pensioner who ran down a woman on a petrol station forecourt was allowed to keep his licence.

Lawrence Stokes, 85, was given six penalty points after he admitted hitting the woman as she walked by the Shell garage on Wilton Road, Salisbury.

Swindon Magistrates’ Court heard he had been cleared by the DVLA as fit to drive after the accident on December 4, 2019. 

On Saturday, Wiltshire Police prosecutor Mike Smith told the justices that at around 3.30pm, Stokes had driven into the forecourt – striking his victim, a woman in her 40s, as she walked in front of the garage. 

Shocking CCTV footage showed Stokes’ Honda CRV knocking her to the ground then carry on into the petrol station. 

Mr Smith said: “Mr Stokes stated he had no recollection of having collided with the victim and the first he was aware of the collision was when he was approached by a member of the public.” 

Stokes, of Fovant, near Salisbury, pleaded guilty by single justice procedure to careless driving. 

In a letter sent to the court, the OAP said he was shocked and “shaken to the core” by the CCTV footage he was played in his interview. 

Stokes’ son said his father had had 65 years of “safe and careful driving”. The court heard that no action had been taken by the DVLA. 

He was fined £230, given six penalty points and ordered to pay £142 in costs and surcharge.