A MOPED rider who seriously injured a man on a pedestrian crossing after running a red light has been spared jail.

Adrian Cifra, from Leigh, wept in the dock as Judge Timothy Stead was told how the car valeter's view of Thomas Rainford on the De Havilland Way crossing in Bolton was obstructed by a truck when his moped slammed into him, sending him flying through the air.

But 22-year-old Cifra was immediately remorseful, placing his jacket under Mr Rainford's head as they waited for an ambulance to take him to hospital, where he needed surgery for a badly broken leg.

Despite being told that his leg may never fully recover 31-year-old Mr Rainford asked the court for leniency for Cifra, who pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

"Mr Rainford has suffered badly and, I fear, may continue indefinitely to suffer from the fractures that he sustained," Judge Stead told Cifra at the Bolton Crown Court hearing.

"But what is remarkable and does require a special mention from me is that he doesn't feel any sense of vindictiveness towards you.

"On the contrary, he extends, what really amounts to, expressions of understanding.

"Mr Rainford says you made a terrible decision but showed genuine remorse at the scene and since.

"Given the extent of his suffering that shows a great deal of magnanimity and that there are indeed some fine people in this world. I take it that he is one of them."

Cifra, of Furness Crescent, Leigh was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, ordered to pay £500 towards prosecution costs and banned from driving for two years after which he will have to take an extended re-test.

Colin Buckle, prosecuting, told how Cifra saw traffic stopping at a crossing on De Havilland Way, Bolton, just before 4.30pm on September 25 last year. But instead of slowing, he speeded up as the lights changed from amber and did not see Mr Rainford as he headed between the stationary vehicles.

"To use his words, he gave it some gas as he tried to get through before the lights turned to red," said Mr Buckle.

"There was remorse at the side of the road, there is no doubt about it. Anything that he spoke about was concern, not for himself, but the victim.

"He effectively made a very poor error of judgement which is made on many occasions throughout the day by many motorists who act in this way and get away with it."

Elizabeth Dudley-Jones, defending told the court that Cifra already "lives in jail in his own mind" for what he had done.

"It is a tragedy on all fronts," she said. "He is devastated he caused the injuries he did."