Published date: 25 January 2017 |
Published by: Staff reporterRead more articles by Staff reporter
A Rhyl man indulged “in a classic case of road rage” and deliberately drove at two people.
One was struck, went up on to the bonnet of his van, and was thrown over a garden wall.
But the driver, Jacob Webber, 25, escaped immediate custody when he appeared at Mold Crown Court on Wednesday.
Webber of Coast Road in Rhyl, admitted dangerous driving and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
He received a 14 month prison sentence suspended for 18 months and was ordered to carry out 300 hours unpaid work.
Webber was banned from driving for a year and ordered to take an extended driving test.
He was also ordered to pay £250 compensation to victim Thomas Dunning and a £140 surcharge.
Judge Niclas Parry told Webber: “You were out of control behind the wheel of a vehicle.
“In a classic case of road rage you used that vehicle as a weapon.
“You deliberately drove at two men.”
Judge Parry said that the potential for harm was obvious and he did cause injury.
He had a poor record and clearly only a custodial sentence could be justified.
But he had pleaded guilty and would receive maximum credit in sentence for having the good sense to do that.
“You did not look for trouble. You were not in any premeditated way looking for problems,” the judge told him.
He also said he took the view that there had been an element of provocation.
The defendant had no previous convictions for violence and mercifully the injuries were not serious.
He had kept out of trouble for seven years during which he had found employment and he had a young family.
“For all those reasons the sentence can be suspended,” he said.
Prosecutor David Mainstone said that at about 9.15 on September 11 last year two brothers Thomas and William Dunning were walking along the Coast Road in Rhyl when the defendant’s blue Renault van turned into Maes y Don Drive as they were walking across the road.
The defendant had to brake to avoid hitting the brothers and that led to an exchange between them.
As the brother continued to walk the defendant got out and confronted the two of them – he was said to be aggressive and posturing and he threw a punch.
Thomas Dunning feared he would be assaulted and punched him once in the face.
He stumbled back and got back in the van before driving off.
The brothers followed the van to try and get the registration number so that they could report the matter to the police, saw it parked outside a house.
But they saw the defendant leave with another man who was said to be carrying some sort of metal implement.
Concerned that there would be retribution, they telephoned their father Simon Dunning.
He drove to the scene, the brother showed him where the defendant had gone, and Thomas Dunning moved closer to the address to see the registration number.
As he did so, the defendant got into the van and drove towards him.
“He began to run away along the pavement.
“The defendant mounted the pavement and collided with him just as he was about to jump over a wall into a garden,” the prosecutor explained.
But he ended up on the bonnet of the van, and was thrown over the wall, landing in the garden.
The defendant then drove towards William Dunning who was crossing the road and who had to run out of the way.
Mr Mainstone said that fortunately Thomas Dunning was not badly injured and had discomfort to the ribs and legs and a gash to the knee. There were no broken bones.
Interviewed, he said that he stopped because he alleged the brothers were trying to attack the van. He denied driving at anyone.
Defending Simon Rogers said that the length of the disqualification would have an effect on his client’s ability to work and to support his family.
He said that the court may take the view that there was some provocation.
But he said he would not mitigate further when the judge indicated that he would follow the recommendation in the pre sentence report.
http://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/171718/-out-of-control-rhyl-man-escapes-jail-after-deliberately-driving-into-two-people-in-road-rage-attack.aspx
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