Mark Okotie, 44, was jailed for 3 years 6 months for running over a cyclist on New Cross Road while carrying blood for hospital patients, the Met says.

A van driver carrying blood for hospital patients deliberately swerved into a cyclist on New Cross Road in Lewisham and ran him over. He was jailed today, 27 October, for three years and six months.

The cyclist, a man in his 20s, suffered multiple fractures to his pelvis and a broken thigh bone. He needed surgery to have metal fixings put into his pelvis and leg. More than two years later he still cannot run.

New Cross Road is part of the A2, in Lewisham, the borough on Bromley’s northern border. The Metropolitan Police released details of the case after sentencing.

What happened on New Cross Road

At about 5.40pm on Wednesday 20 March 2024, members of the public flagged down police officers to report a collision between a van and a cyclist on New Cross Road. Police and the London Ambulance Service attended.

According to the Met, witnesses told officers they had seen the van swerve out of its lane into the cyclist’s path and then speed up. The cyclist was knocked off his bike and run over. One eyewitness later said they believed the driver had tried to kill him.

The driver was Mark Okotie, now 44, of Naylor Road, Southwark. He was driving a work van with blood deliveries on board and had got into an altercation with the cyclist, the force says. Witnesses identified him as the driver, and he was arrested at the scene.

How the case was built

Detectives collected dashcam footage from inside and outside Okotie’s own van. They also got footage from buses that were nearby, which the Met says “clearly corroborated” what the witnesses had said.

Okotie was charged with grievous bodily harm with intent on 31 October 2024. A jury at Woolwich Crown Court found him guilty on Monday 19 October 2026. He was sentenced at the same court today.

What the detective said

Detective Inspector Steven Andrews, who led the investigation, said: “Okotie was driving a vehicle carrying blood destined for hospital patients in need. Instead of continuing a journey intended to support potentially lifesaving treatment, he chose to place someone else’s life at risk.

“We acted quickly to secure and review extensive dashcam and CCTV footage, while obtaining crucial witness evidence from those who saw the incident unfold. That meticulous investigative work allowed us to build a clear picture of events, leaving no doubt about Okotie’s culpability.

“I hope this sentence provides a measure of justice for the victim and demonstrates that deliberate acts of violence on London roads will be robustly investigated and prosecuted.”

The cyclist’s own words

In a victim personal statement, the cyclist described how the attack still affects him:

“I’ve always been quite an active person so that was the main impact, specifically riding my bike, running, and working out. I used to go jogging every morning before work but I’ve not been able to do that since.

“When I hear a van or a large vehicle coming up behind me when I’m cycling it can make me panic.

“The incident has made me more cautious of people. Before the incident I was social, I would go out and meet people and mingle. Now I try to avoid people when I am out and about, when I am in a group of people I don’t really know I now tend to keep myself to myself.

“Looking forwards to the future, the incident will continue to have an impact on the things I used to do on a daily basis like running and certain exercise. There are lots of things that I would have liked to do but now I probably can’t do with my injuries, like skydiving.”

The timeline

  • 20 March 2024: cyclist run over on New Cross Road; Okotie arrested at the scene
  • 31 October 2024: charged with grievous bodily harm with intent
  • 19 October 2026: found guilty at Woolwich Crown Court
  • 27 October 2026: jailed for three years and six months

The Met’s release is in its Mynewsdesk newsroom.