KITCHEN porter Anoldas Loveikis was still suffering the effects of a drinking session when he knocked a woman down as he cycled to work, a court heard yesterday.

Mark Haigh, prosecuting, told Harrogate magistrates how 48-year-old Loveikis had ridden through a red light at a pelican crossing in Knaresborough Road, Harrogate, at 9.45am on January 17, and knocked Linda Smith unconscious as she crossed.

Mr Haigh said Loveikis, who is Lithuanian, was earlier seen by motorists riding erratically, swaying on his bike and swerving to such an extent that cars could not pass, before the collision with Mrs Smith.

The cyclist had been eager to leave the scene before police arrived, but was persuaded to stay by witnesses who said he was disorientated and smelled strongly of drink.

Loveikis, of Belford Road, Harrogate, pleaded guilty to being drunk in charge of a pedal cycle. When he also admitted riding carelessly, the prosecution dropped a dangerous cycling charge.

In mitigation, Geoffrey Rogers said Loveikis had been cycling to work and, although he had felt tired, he did not think he was drunk.

Mr Rogers said Loveikis, who had drunk strong beer with a friend the previous night, had seen Mrs Smith on the crossing and decided that he could pass without hitting her.

He lost his job after being detained at the police station when he should have been on duty.

After hearing that Loveikis, who lost a tooth in the collision and had several others loosened, had tried to visit Mrs Smith in hospital to say sorry, court chairman Michael Jefferies conditionally discharged him for a year.

But he ordered payment of £70 costs and £300 compensation to Mrs Smith for her injuries and loss of earnings.