An ‘agitated’ 73-year-old is paying the price after admitting knocking over an Ipswich Half Marathon steward while attempting to drive around a road block.

South East Suffolk Magistrates Court heard John Stannard had mounted the pavement in an effort to ignore safety barriers preventing him from getting into Tuddenham Road

Stannard, of Mill Rise, Holbrook, pleaded guilty by post to careless driving after receiving a court summons.

Magistrates heard the incident occurred in Christchurch Street, Ipswich, on Sunday, September 20 last year

Stannard was driving a Toyota Corolla which had a trailer attached.

He reached the top of Christchurch Street to discover Tuddenham Road was closed.

Safety barriers had been placed across the T-junction due to the half marathon.

Event marshall David Wood saw and heard Stannard becoming ‘very agitated’ and without any warning the 73-year-old’s Toyota accelerated on to the pavement and through the road closed signs as he intended to turn into Tuddenham Road.

However, Stannard failed to stop and collided with Mr Wood, knocking him to the ground.

Mr Wood sustained injuries to his knees and legs, although the extent of the injuries were not indicated in court.

The incident was seen by witnesses.

In a letter to the court Stannard said shortly after turning left into Christchurch Street he saw he could not get into Tuddenham Road.

Stannard felt he could not have turned around because of the trailer he was towing.

He carried on to Tuddenham Road by mistake.

Stannard stated Mr Wood left the safety of the path and jumped on to the Toyota when his foot got entangled causing him to fall to the ground.

Magistrates endorsed Stannard’s driving licence with nine penalty points.

He was also fined £280 and ordered to pay £85 costs as well as £28 to the victims’ fund.