A DRIVER who seriously injured a pedestrian on a zebra crossing after he accelerated towards her has been handed a driving ban.

Carlos Machado, of Hatfield Road, Witham, had been driving a Mini Cooper when he hit a woman who had been crossing the road in Spinks Lane in May 2022.

The woman was left in hospital for a week following the incident.

At Colchester Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, Machado, 65, argued there ought to have been barriers near the zebra crossing.

Magistrates Judge Ian Andrews said: “On that day, the girl got onto the zebra crossing and you weren’t able to stop quickly enough.”

Machado, who was representing himself, replied: “It is impossible for any human being in that position to stop – I studied physics and I know what I’m saying.”

In a bizarre defence statement, Machado mentioned the international court of human rights and studies which he said are being conducted by neuro-physicians in Norway.

Machado was accompanied to court by a friend who was allowed to address the court.

She told Judge Andrews Machado was ill at the time of the incident.

She said: “Carlos was severely ill when he had his accident; the reason he was unable to appear in court was because he was in a secure hospital in Norfolk.

“He suffers from paranoid schizophrenia.

“He hadn’t been seen by the mental health team for a very long time and this is probably why the accident happened.”

Machado, who drove to court for Thursday’s hearing, said: “There are tests which are going to be finished in Norway where I am going – they are going to be proven by myself in Norway by neuro-physicians.”

Judge Andrews interrupted, saying: “I’m going to have to get you to stop because you really are confusing me.”

After deliberating, he said: “This was a very serious accident – we heard you swerved, didn’t slow down, accelerated and hit the victim with your car.

“The victim was hospitalised for a week.”

Machado was banned from driving but will be eligible to reapply for his licence in July, and was ordered to pay £362.