A van driver who reversed into a pensioner, who was dragged under the vehicle, has been fined £200.

District judge Paul Tain said the size of the fine "in no sense reflects the seriousness of what happened".

Paul Walker, 43, pleaded guilty at Worthing Magistrates' Court to careless or inconsiderate driving.

Gail Purdy, prosecuting, said a woman in her 60s went to cross Pembroke Avenue after doing her shopping in Goring on October 17 last year She said: "As she was doing so, the vehicle reversed and hit her, unfortunately causing her to be dragged under the vehicle."

The woman suffered fractured ribs and bruises to her left shoulder, ribs and arm.

Walker, from Southampton, admitted he had been looking at an A to Z for directions and reversed slowly. He heard a scream.

He said he had driven for 22 years and this was his first offence of any sort.

The judge told him: "From looking at the photos, the accident described was a blind spot accident. It was through inadvertence, while looking at an A to Z.

"The level of carelessness was in fact relatively modest while the consequences were relatively serious."