Jean Pierre de Villiers cycling when hit by driver in Devon | Sticky Bottle

Jean-Pierre de Villiers in intensive care last year after he was mowed down by a drunk driver who veered onto the wrong side of the road, fled the scene and was found drunk and collapsed in an alleyway shortly after the crash (*Photo:* *Jean-Pierre de Villier*s)

A driver who left a cyclist with such serious injuries that he could have died was so drunk he was found by police collapsed in an alleyway shortly after the crash.

Stephen Evans (69) was four times over the legal limit when he hit Jean-Pierre de Villiers near Ilfracombe, Devon, and has now been jailed in the UK for two years.

Evans had a previous drink driving conviction from 2018 and on the day of the hit and run in May, 2019, he took his ex-partner’s car without permission after an argument.

After veering
over to the wrong side of the road and hitting de Villiers he drove on in the Ford Focus with a smashed
windscreen before being found collapsed in an alleyway a short time after the
crash.

Mr De Villiers was on a charity bike ride from John O'Groats to Lands End at the time and between the impact of the crash and being thrown down a steep banking he was left with a litany of injuries.

*The bike de Villiers was on when he was hit by Evans. It was smashed to pieces by the force of the crash* (*Photo:* *Jean-Pierre de Villier*s)

He spent several
months in hospital and while in the intensive care unit he stopped breathing at
times, such were his injuries.

Related News

Lara Gillespie attacks Dolomite stage as Giro hits high mountains

Video - Ireland's Meehan climbs with best on brutal Alpine terrain

He suffered a broken arm, a punctured lung and both his legs were shattered, Exeter Crown Court was told.

Evans, Wilder Road, Ilfracombe, pleaded guilty to
causing serious injury by dangerous driving, drink driving, driving while
disqualified and uninsured, and failing to stop. As well as being jailed for two years he was banned from driving for
10 years.

De Villiers, a fitness coach and motivational speaker,
said he had “zero animosity or negativity” towards Evans, and addressed Evans
in his statement to the court.

“I forgave him straight away. I even feel sorry for him.
For me, this was a life changing experience, but I am grateful to be alive,” he
said.

“Mr Evans, I want you to know I truly believe that
everything happens for a reason. There are consequences and repercussions for
what you did to me.

“I really hope that whatever happens to you, you can use
the time to heal whatever you need to heal and that you come out of this a
better and stronger man. I forgive you.”

Evans replied by saying: “I never went out to hurt
anyone. I wish it was the other way round. I would not be here and you would
not be here. I pray for you most days, I pray hard.”