Former Manchester United star Nicky Butt collided with a motorcyclist as he drove home after picking his son up from Burnley’s Gawthorpe training centre.
Blackburn magistrates heard the collision represented a “momentary lapse of concentration” by Butt.
The motorcyclist, who suffered a broken leg and other minor injuries, told police he remembered nothing of the incident until he woke up in hospital in extreme pain.
Butt, 49, of Cavendish Road, Bowdon, Altrincham, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by careless driving.
He was remanded on bail for the preparation of a pre-sentence report and will appear in court again on June 21. Butt was made subject to an interim disqualification.
Graeme Tindall, prosecuting, said the offence went back to October 2022. The victim, Andrew Fielden, was riding his 125cc motorbike home from work at about 8pm.
As he passed the entrance to the Gawthorpe training ground, he was hit by a Range Rover driven by Butt.
“He doesn’t remember anything of the journey but does remember waking up in hospital in extreme pain,” said Mr Tindall.
He said Butt had collected his son from training and stopped at the main road while a number of vehicles passed.
“One of the vehicles was a HGV and having let that pass he pulled out,” said Mr Tindall.
“Unfortunately, that was when Mr Fielden was passing. He has failed to see him resulting in the collision."
Mr Tindall said Mr Fielden had declined to make a victim impact statement to the police.
John Dye, defending, said compensation was being dealt with by his client’s insurance company.
He said in his first statement to the police Mr Fielden said he did not bear any ill will towards the driver. Mr Dye said the guidelines suggested a community order but he hoped the court could be persuaded to impose a high-level fine.
He said his client was currently working as chief executive of Salford City Football Club earning £2,500 a week net.
He said his client was already serving the community on a voluntary basis through a foundation set up to help university students and by visiting prisons.
Mr Dye said the motorcyclist had been masked by the lorry.
“Thankfully the impact was at a low speed” said Mr Dye. “My client stopped to assist and has shown genuine remorse."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel