Overview

• On September 3, Matthew Thornley, 45, pleaded guilty to riding without due care and attention at Westminster Magistrates' Court and was fined £500 with £2,500 compensation.
• Paola Dos Santos, 53, suffered multiple facial fractures and required titanium plates after being struck on May 1, 2024 on Hanover Terrace while Thornley rode with Club Peloton riders, and the club says it has reinforced safety guidance.
• Dos Santos says she was not informed of the plea change or sentencing, and the Crown Prosecution Service acknowledges victim communications did not meet expected standards.
• The case follows a 2022 fatal collision at the same location where an inquest heard Royal Parks' 20mph limits did not apply to cyclists, limiting prosecution options.
• The government has proposed an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill to align cycling offences with driving laws, with plans for tougher penalties including potential five-year jail terms for causing death or serious injury by dangerous cycling.