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VIDEO: Cyclist who knocked over a five-year-old girl on purpose on Xmas Day faces Prison

A Belgian cyclist who used his knee to knock over a five-year-old girl because she did not get out of the way fast enough - on Christmas day!

The cyclists has been questioned by the police and he must appear now appear on court of Verviers in February and risks up to 1 year in prison.

The images that girl’s dad took of the incident and posted on social media caused a storm of outrage. The video shows the girl, named Neïa in a red snowsuit, walking with her mother and another child when a cyclist on a cyclo-cross bike appears from behind them and shouts a warning, he then stuck his left knee out to knock the 5 year old girl to the ground.

The girl has complained of back pain and sore wrists, but fortunately she didn't suffered any fractures or serious injury. 

“She fell on her forearms,” her father said. “At first we were afraid that she had broken something, but fortunately that is not the case. She does ask herself questions: she said that this man is a bad guy. Why did he do that?”

Her dad decided to file a complaint. Police appealed to witnesses to come forward with information as the video gathered tens of thousands of views.

The father of the five-year-old said he had been contacted by someone claiming to be the assailant, the man contacted the police after girl’s dad had refused to withdraw his complaint.

The rider, aged 61, presented himself to police on Sunday following a witness appeal and reportedly faces up to a year in jail for intentional assault and battery to a minor.

“He asked us to withdraw the complaint, but showed no regret for what he did. What’s more, he accused me of being aggressive. He claimed that he had not seen that Neïa had fallen, that he would otherwise have stopped … I have the impression that he thinks it is normal.”

He continued: “A lot of people tell me that I should have beat up that cyclist, but I didn’t want to heat things up even more in front of my children, in front of the other passers-by. I don’t want a witch hunt, just an apology.”

Prosecutor Vanessa Clérin said: “He was interrogated and subsequently received a summons to appear before the correctional court in February.”

When interviewed by police, he insisted that he had not pushed the child out of the way on purpose and had been unaware he had hit her, Clérin said.

VIDEO: Cyclist who knocked over a five-year-old girl on purpose on Xmas Day!