Middlesbrough's star striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has been fined after knocking a cyclist down while behind the wheel of his Range Rover.

The Dutch footballer - who is a former Leeds United and Chelsea player - was on a shopping trip when he knocked the rider off his bike and broke his wrist.

Police charged him with careless driving and his case was heard by magistrates in Harrogate today.

The 33-year-old did not appear before the court. He wrote with a plea of guilty but offered no mitigation for his actions the night he encountered cyclist John Planchet.

"The court was told how Mr Hasselbaink had turned right into Valley Drive, Harrogate, across the path of Mr Planchet who was riding along the town's Cold Bath Road.

Magistrates heard how Mr Planchet had spent five days in hospital.

During that time surgeons carried out two operations on his wrist. Doctors also treated him for minor injuries. He suffered from cuts and bruises to his body, an eye and an ear. The court heard how Mr Planchet told police: "I had a second to react as the Range Rover crossed into my lane. It all happened very quickly. I tried to go round the Range Rover and my wheels locked and I hit the front of it." Court chairman Catherine Nickols heard how Mr Hasselbaink, who lives in Kent Road, Harrogate, had told police he had been out to buy groceries. He told police that: "I just didn't see him."

Hasselbaink had added that his Range Rover had come to a halt before the cyclist collided with his 4x4.

His statement added: "He tried to avoid me, slid for about five metres and hit into the car at the front."

The soccer star, whose earnings were not disclosed to the court, was fined £250 with £45 costs.

Magistrates also endorsed his driver's licence with six penalty points. They will be added to three already on his licence after he was caught speeding in May.