A bus driver who deliberately knocked a cyclist down inBristol using his bus "as a weapon" has been jailed.Gavin Hill, 29, of Frome, previously pleaded guilty to dangerous driving andcausing grievous bodily harm.Bristol Crown Court heard that after an altercation, Hill deliberatelyknocked Phillip Mead off his bike by swerving the bus into his path.Sentencing Hill to 17 months in jail, Judge Mark Horton said his action "wasnot an accident"."You used the bus as a weapon to bully and intimidate Mr Mead," he added.Hill was told he would serve half his sentence before being considered forrelease on licence.Continued to argueThe court was told the incident started on the morning of 5 April 2011 whenHill had driven too close to Mr Mead on the nearby St James Bartonroundabout.Moments later the bus stopped outside Bristol Magistrates' Court and Mr Meadpropped his bike against the front of the vehicle.He continued to argue with Hill, who remained in his cab.It's about time cyclists were treated as humanbeings”End Quote Martin McDonnell Bristol Cycling CampaignThe court was played CCTV footage which showed Mr Meadcycle off. Moments later the footage shows the bus overtaking him before sharplyswerving to the left knocking the cyclist over.Mr Mead suffered a broken leg and his bike was crushed.The court was told Hill, a qualified driver with 10 years' experience, waspreviously of excellent character and his defence accepted the collisionhappened in "a moment of madness".Gerald Creed, managing director of Bugler Coaches, said Hill had been sackedby the company on the day the incident happened.He added that the firm's sympathies lay with Mr Mead.Martin McDonnell, from Bristol Cycling Campaign, said incidents like thiswere happening far too often."It's about time cyclists were treated as human beings and not just flesh,"he said."As a group we're calling on Bristol City Council to do more to increasecycle safety in the city and to pledge their support to the SundayTimes Safer Cycling campaign," he added.