A CYCLIST scarred for life after being hit by a car claims police officers failed to speak to him about his accident for nearly a month.

Graeme Cooper was knocked unconscious, had to have a pin inserted into his hand and has a permanent scar on his chin after being hit by the car when cycling home from work.

That happened on February 11 – but Mr Cooper says it took until last week for an officer to visit his home in Hyde Heath to take a statement.

And that was after a call to police from wife Lucy to say the couple had contacted the Bucks Free Press about what happened.

Mr Cooper, a manager for a renewable energy company, said: “I think it was the Bucks Free Press’s involvement that prompted them to pull their finger out.”

The 35-year-old added: “I feel like now I am having my case taken seriously. I feel someone actually cares to get a resolution.

“It was bad enough having the accident, but it was made worse by the police’s lack of wanting to do something.”

The incident began when three youths travelling in a Volkswagen Polo threw a drink carton at Mr Cooper when they drove past him on Hill Avenue, Amersham.

The car then got stuck in traffic queuing at a roundabout – and Mr Cooper believes the occupants either drove the vehicle into him or opened a door to knock him off after becoming worried he would confront them.

He said: “As I approached the car the guy on the back seat was visibly bouncing up and down and panicking.

“I wasn’t going to stop and have a word – there were three against one, so it would have been a bit foolish.”

Mr Cooper said “one moment of stupidity” had had “a huge impact” on his life. He cannot pick up his two young children and will not be able to drive for another month.

A/Ch Insp Vince Grey, from Amersham police station, said the day of the accident was a very difficult day for police due to the heavy snowfall.

“A total of 53 crashes were reported to us in that particular area alone.

“We are very sorry to hear that Mr Cooper is unhappy with the service he has received and would urge him to make a complaint so the matter can be properly investigated.

“We do take complaints about our service seriously and do have a proper process for dealing with them.

“Anyone with complaints about Thames Valley Police should contact our Quality of Service Unit via email at QoSUnit@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk or in writing to the Quality of Service Unit, Thames Valley Police HQ, Oxford Road, Kidlington, Oxford, OX5 2NX.”