Justine Henshaw-Bryan chased and ploughed into a cyclist (Picture: Metropolitan Police/PA)

A pregnant woman has been jailed for three years for ramming a cyclist into a tree after he confronted her about using her mobile phone behind the wheel.

Justine Henshaw-Bryan told Damien Doughty to ‘f*** off’ and gave him the finger after the pair nearly collided as she spoke on her phone.

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Angered by the 25-year-old’s response, Doughty her wing mirror at the next set of traffic lights.

She then chased him in her Ford Fiesta on February 10 last year, and eventually rear-ended the 38-year-old, who went flying off his racing bike and into a tree.


The pregnant woman then fled from the scene in Stoke Newington, north London.

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Henshaw-Bryan rammed a Ford Fiesta into Damien Doughty on February 10 (Picture: Metropolitan Police/PA Wire)

Mr Doughty, who was cycling home from a meditation meeting, was left in intensive care having suffered fractured ribs and a severe laceration to his liver.



The freelance courier had to set up a crowdfunding page to pay his rent because he could not work while he recovered, and raised more than £3,000.

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Stoke Newington resident Henshaw-Bryan, who is three months’ pregnant, denied causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

She claimed her violent ex-boyfriend Aaron Hall had grabbed the steering wheel, causing the car to swerve into the cyclist – a claim he denies.

But a jury convicted her at Wood Green Crown Court on Tuesday after three hours of deliberations.

Henshaw-Bryan, a full time carer for her mother, was jailed today and was also handed a four-and-a-half years driving ban and six points on her licence.

Passing sentence, Judge Gregory Perrins said: ‘I accept that you were on your mobile phone and weren’t paying proper attention when you pulled out.

‘Rather than accepting you were on the wrong and apologise, you effectively turned on him and shouted at him to “f*** off”.

She was jailed at Wood Green Crown Court (Picture: PA)

‘He was understandably angry. This is the sort of incident that cyclists in London have to endure on a depressingly regular basis.

‘You deliberately pursued him at speed. You drove no more than a few feet away.

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‘This wasn’t therefore an accident, caused by your reckless driving.

‘This was a calculated attempt to run him over, effectively using your car as a weapon.’

He added: ‘I am also told that you are pregnant.

‘It must follow that you became pregnant knowing you were facing trial for this offence.

‘Those who are unable to control their temper when driving and think cyclists are fair game must be dealt with severely.’