A pick up truck driver who braked sharply in front of a cyclist, causing him to end up on the flatbed of the vehicle, has been ordered to do 150 hours unpaid work in the community and banned from driving for 15 months.

Michael Pugh, a university sports administrator, flew over the handlebars of his bike and crashed chest first through the back panel of the Nissan Navara driven by Gary Norman.

Mr Pugh landed in the back of the truck, which had come to a sudden stop in Bucklesham Road, Ipswich, the town’s Crown Court heard.

The former Copleston High School pupil was later taken to Ipswich Hospital suffering from severe pain to his chest.

His £1,700 bike was a write off as a result of the incident and a cycle computer on the handlebars was also broken.

Norman, 45, of Balliol Close, Woodbridge, denied dangerous driving on December 30, assaulting Mr Pugh by beating and having a crowbar as an offensive weapon.

He was found guilty after a trial earlier this month of dangerous driving and cleared of the other two offences. Sentence was adjourned until yesterday for a pre-sentence report.

In addition to ordering Norman to do unpaid work and banning him from driving, Recorder Neil Garnham ordered him to pay £750 compensation to Mr Pugh.

During the trial the court Mr Pugh said he had been waiting to pull out of Ascot Drive into Felixstowe Road when he saw Norman driving towards him using his mobile phone.

When he caught up with Norman’s vehicle at red traffic lights at the junction of Kings Way he spoke to him through the driver’s window about using his mobile phone and they had ended up swearing at each other.

Shortly afterwards Mr Pugh was cycling along Bucklesham Road when Norman’s truck overtook him before coming to an abrupt halt in front of him.

Norman denied using his mobile phone while driving and claimed he had been forced to brake in Bucklesham Road when another cyclist slipped off the kerb in front of his pick up truck.