Knopfler crash woman is deported

Mark Knopfler was forced to cancel a planned tour

A driver who left Tyneside-born rock star Mark Knopfler with nine broken bones in a crash, is to be deported.

Monica Beltran, 23, collided with the Dire Straits guitarist's 800cc Honda touring bike in March 2003.

Beltran, of south-east London, did not check her mirrors or indicate when she turned into a petrol station in London.

In finding her guilty of careless driving, District Judge Michael Snow revealed she was to be deported on an unrelated false passport charge.

Mr Knopfler, 54, was overtaking but was driving in a "sensible and careful" manner, Marylebone Magistrates Court was told.

He was unable to play the guitar for seven months and needed more than a year of physiotherapy after breaking a collar bone, shoulder and seven ribs.

Release date

The multi-millionaire musician was hurled into the air before landing on his back while his motorbike went skidding down the road.

Beltran, who used a Spanish interpreter at Monday's hearing, has already been sentenced to 15 months imprisonment for the passport charge and has an August release date.

It is believed she is from Ecuador.

Mr Snow told her: "I cannot really pass any sort of meaningful sentence upon you.

"I cannot add to the terms of your imprisonment and any disqualification is largely irrelevant because you shall be deported at the end of your current sentence.

"You are to have a £250 pound fine or one day prison sentence which will run concurrent to your sentence."

There was no application for the £395 costs of the two-day hearing as a civil claim has already been launched.