A PENSIONER on his way to watch Blackburn Rovers ended up in hospital after being hit by a speeding car.

The driver, Jacob Fuller, 22, of Grindleton Road, Blackburn, was banned for two years at Preston Crown Court after he admitted dangerous driving, on August 19 last year.

The court heard that Mr Derek Riding, who was 70 at the time, had left his home in Livesey Branch Road to walk to the match.

He heard a car coming from behind and then felt pain and was lifted off the ground.

Fuller was driving a Renault car at excessive speed and as he approached a left hand bend he lost control into the path of oncoming traffic.

He swerved and collided with Mr Riding, who was lifted off the ground into a fence. He spent six days in hospital and sustained a fractured ankle, severe bruising and cuts.

Judge Edward Slinger told Fuller he could easily have killed Mr Riding. "It was a thoroughly dangerous piece of driving," he told him.

Fuller was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment suspended for two years. He must do 200 hours unpaid work for the community and pay £245 prosecution costs.