Gloucestershire Echo

Callous Motorist deliberate­ly veered into biker

- Ed STILLIARD edward.stilliard@reachplc.com

ABMW driver deliberate­ly knocked a motorcycli­st off his bike in Cheltenham during a moment of “reckless” driving.

Jake Rooum, 24, formerly of Coriander Drive, Churchdown, but now living in Birmingham, admitted only recently that he was involved in the incident in May 2020, Gloucester Crown Court heard last Thursday.

Judge Michael Cullum commented that it happened after Rooum had “taken umbrage about being cut up” by a motorcycli­st while stationary.

Prosecutor Catherine Flint explained that the traffic was light heading into Cheltenham on the A40 at around 4pm on May 21, 2020.

“Rooum pulled up at the traffic lights close to GCHQ in his BMW and a motorcycli­st weaved his way to the front, and when the lights went green the BMW drove past the motorcycli­st as they headed towards the town centre,” she said.

“At the next roundabout the traffic had come to a stop at the traffic lights with Rooum being positioned at the front of the queue. The motorcycli­st then also weaved his way to the front with Rooum shouting at the rider, Jamie Harman, as he passed by.

“As the lights turned green, Mr Harman drove off slowly in a straight line towards the middle of the roundabout while Rooum gathered his speed and deliberate­ly veered right and knocked the rider off his motorbike using the front of the vehicle.

“Rooum is then seen heading from the incident along Princess Elizabeth Way, but he returns a few minutes later after he drops his mother off.

“He then tells the police officer who attended the incident that he wasn’t the driver of the vehicle, and he maintained that stance until November 13 when he changed his plea and therefore avoiding standing trial today.”

The whole incident was captured on dashcam, and the video was played to the court.

Mr Harman said in a victim statement that the incident had affected his mental heath and for a period afterwards he didn’t want to get back on his bike. He said he frequently got flashbacks and added: “What Rooum did was totally reckless, it was dangerous and could have caused serious injury.”

The court was told that the bike suffered minor damage and that the rider’s helmet was cracked.

Ms Flint concluded: “Although this was a single incident, it was a deliberate manoeuvre for which Rooum completely disregarde­d the safety of others.”

Douglas Wotherspoo­n, defending, said when Rooum was 18 he had been shot at with a gun while he was in car with blacked-out windows, which had left him struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder. His actions that day were protective because he had his mother in the vehicle with him.

“He had been part of the drug culture in Cheltenham and decided to move away to Birmingham for a better life, where he has since gained employment,” he added.

“Rooum states that he freaked out after he had knocked Mr Harman from his motorbike. But he returned a short time later, even though he didn’t admit he had been the driver.”

Rooum pleaded guilty to driving dangerousl­y on May 21, 2020 in a BMW on the A40 Gloucester Road in Cheltenham.

Judge Cullum said: “The incident is seen quite clearly on the dashcam video. There is nothing to suggest that the motorcycli­st had done anything wrong.

“He drove off from the roundabout in a straight line while you lost your temper and deliberate­ly knocked him off his bike. That was callous.

“However, you did not run over the bike or the rider, but drove off.

“I would have taken it as remorse that when you returned you offered your apologies but instead you told the police you were not the driver.

“I accept it was a fleeting moment of dangerous driving, but it still passes the custody threshold.”

The judge sentenced Rooum to seven months in prison, suspended for 18 months, and ordered him to attend 10 rehabilita­tion activity requiremen­t days and to undertake 100 hours of unpaid work.

Judge Cullum ordered that Rooum pay £1,000 compensati­on to Mr Harman and court costs of £1,500 and pay a victim surcharge. He also disqualifi­ed Rooum from driving for 12 months and ordered that he take an extended retest.

 ?? ?? Jake Rooum, 24, admitted dangerous driving in Cheltenham in May last year
Jake Rooum, 24, admitted dangerous driving in Cheltenham in May last year

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