Woman charged with killing cyclist after campaigners raise £60,000 in Britain's first crowdfunded lawsuit

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A woman has appeared in court accused of killing a 70-year-old cyclist after a private prosecution case against her was crowdfunded by a charity.

It is believed to be the first time in Britain a crowdfunded lawsuit has resulted in prosecution.

Gail Purcell, 58, hit teacher Michael Mason while driving her black Nissan Juke during evening rush hour on London's Regent Street in February 2014.

Mr Mason died 19 days later, having never regained consciousness from the injuries he sustained in the collision.

Ms Purcell appeared before Westminster Magistrates' Court this week charged with death by careless driving. She indicated she intended to plead not guilty.

Prosecutor Michael Goodwin told the court that it was a “complex” and “serious” case that should be heard in crown court.

Previously, the Met Police twice decided not to refer the case against Ms Purcell to the Crown Prosecution Service.

In response, a private prosecution was brought against her by charity Cycling UK, which started the Cyclists' Defence Fund, a campaigning body which, in part, focuses on providing legal assistance to cyclists.

Through an online fundraising drive, it collected more than £60,000 from 1,500 donors to finance the case in what has been described as the UK's first crowdfunded lawsuit.

After the publication of the Chilcot Inquiry, a crowdfunding campaign was set up to raise funds for legal action against state officials involved in the Iraq War.

It has raised £160,000 so far on the Crowd Justice website, but the case has not yet gone to court.

“The Cyclists’ Defence Fund wants to thank everyone who has generously donated. Without their help this private prosecution and the Mason family’s ongoing struggle for justice wouldn’t have been possible,” Duncan Dollimore of Cycling UK told Cycling Weekly.

The defendant was told her case would be heard in Southwark Crown Court on October 11.

She was given unconditional bail until her next appearance.

Family members have released pictures of Mr Mason, who worked as a stand-in teacher at the Grey Coat Hospital girls’ school in Westminster, in hospital as “an illustration of what can happen to cyclists on London’s roads”.

His daughter Anna Tatton-Brown told the Evening Standard Mr Mason was her “best friend”, who was “very experienced and had cycled all across London”.

“We are heartbroken. He was one of life’s genuinely nice and funny people. He was the best dad in the world and my best friend. I think I have spoken to him every day for the past 33 years,” she said.

Additional reporting by Press Association