A LORRY driver who caused a “serious injury” to a pedestrian by careless or inconsiderate driving must complete 250 hours of unpaid work.

Panagiotis Pitoulias, 30, of Albert Place, Portishead, caused the injury to a female pedestrian on May 23, 2023 in Melvin Square, Bristol.

The square was cordoned off by police for several hours after the incident took place, and the woman was taken to hospital in an ambulance. The ambulance service said her condition was not believed to be life-threatening.

The owner of nearby Nemo’s Fish Bar rushed out to help her, according to Bristol World.

Mustafa Ahmadzai said: “I heard the crash and saw the woman on the floor in the middle of the road.

“I ran out with another person and we saw she was bleeding from the back of her head.

“I stopped the bleeding with my hand and luckily a community transport van was nearby to come quickly and take over before the ambulance service arrived.

“The police then came and closed off the whole area.”

Pitoulias indicated a guilty plea on July 16 at Bristol Magistrates' Court.

The court heard that he drove “without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road” when the incident took place.

Pitoulias has been sentenced to a community order, under which he must complete 250 hours of unpaid work by February 19, 2026.

He has also been banned from driving for one year.

Magistrates also ordered him to pay a £114 surcharge to fund victim services and £85 in court costs, which must be paid by September 20.

His guilty plea was taken into account when he was sentenced.