MARK OKOTIE JAILED FOR DRIVING VAN OVER CYCLIST

Mark Okotie deliberately drove his van into a cyclist in Lewisham while delivering blood products to a south London hospital, Woolwich Crown Court heard. The collision followed an altercation during the evening rush hour on 20 March 2024. The court heard that Okotie had moved his van close to the cyclist on New Cross Road before the cyclist spat through the open driver’s window. Dashcam footage showed Okotie steering sharply towards the cyclist, knocking him off his bicycle and driving over him. A jury convicted Okotie of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

The cyclist suffered multiple pelvic fractures and a fractured femur. Surgeons inserted metal fixings into his pelvis and leg. He told the court that his injuries had stopped him jogging before work and affected his cycling and other exercise. He said: “When I hear a van or a large vehicle coming up behind me when I’m cycling it can make me panic.” He also said he had become more cautious around other people and tended to keep to himself in unfamiliar groups.

Woolwich Crown Court sentenced Okotie to three years and six months in prison on Tuesday. Defence barrister Mandisa Knights said Okotie mentored young people to steer them away from violence. She told the court: “A momentary relapse in retaliation has led him to these grave consequences.” Knights said he would have to face the young people he had mentored and acknowledge what he had done.