Road-rage attacker jailed for eight years
Motorist was struck over head with a rock
A MOTORIST was left “30 minutes from death” after being struck over the head with a rock in a road rage attack in Cosby.
Paul Bevans, of Warwick Road, Littlethorpe, was this week jailed for eight years for the attack - which he drove away from having caused a life-threatening brain injury following a “trifling” dispute.
Leicester Crown Court heard the 45-year-old victim was said to be half-anhour from dying when he arrived at hospital.
He was put into a medical coma prior to an emergency operation for bleeding on the brain and to repair his fractured skull.
Bevans, 60, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent, on the evening of February 25 last year.
Leicester Crown Court was told the incident began in Foston Road, Countesthorpe, when an elderly driver in front of Bevan’s Jeep slowed down, causing him to brake and the victim pulled up close behind him.
Bevans thought he was being tail-gated and pulled over.
He then followed the victim’s car for about two miles, until it stopped outside a newsagents on Croft Road in Cosby, at 7.30pm.
Caroline Wilkinson, prosecuting, said: “The defendant got out of his Jeep, having armed himself with a rock or fossil and stormed up to the victim, who was getting out of his car.
Bevans said: “What’s your f****** problem?
“Without waiting for an answer he struck him with the rock.”
Sentencing, Recorder Jacob Hallam said but for the help of passers-by and the skill of paramedics and surgeons Bevans could have been facing a murder or a manslaughter charge.
He said: “The victim was half an hour away from death because of what you did.
“It arose out of nothing. A foolish argument to do with the quality of driving and should have ended with you just going home.
“At most it was minor provocation; a trifling dispute.
“You followed him for two miles and when he stopped to get some shop- ping you were out of your car at speed and ambushed him.
“You swore at him and asked him what his problem was before you struck him, whether it was a cosh (as some witnesses thought) or a fossil (as the defendant claimed) it was taken from your car to use as a weapon by you in temper.
“Having inflicted that dreadful injury you drove off leaving the complainant on the way to death and leaving him to be cared for by ordinary people going about their everyday lives – and the effect on them has no doubt been profound and some have attended court today.
“They had steeled themselves along with (the victim) to the prospect of having to give evidence before you had the courage to accept your guilt on the day of trial.
“There’s an ongoing effect upon (the victim) with numbness to the side of his head, it’s affected his hearing and impacted on his memory.
“Remorse is difficult to see.
“I accept you asked about his welfare on arrest, but then gave a lying and a self-serving account in interview.”
The court heard that Bevans falsely told officers the victim had earlier got out of his car and punched him – which never happened.
The victim, who was taken from the Leicester Royal Infirmary to Nottingham’s Queens Medical Centre for life-saving surgery, was in hospital for a week.
Recorder Hallam said: “Can you imagine the psychological impact on his relatives being told someone they love is 30 minutes from death – that’s what they were told after you struck him.”
After the hearing the victim became tearful as he was hugged by his wife, relatives and friends.
He did not wish to be named, but said: “I’m just pleased it’s over and we can move on with our lives.”
The court heard that Bevans’ last previous conviction, in 2003, was road rage-related when he believed a 12-year-old child had hit out at his car, when some youngsters stepped into the road as he was passing.
Bevans got out and slapped the child causing a perforated eardrum; for which he received a noncustodial community punishment.
Nathan Palmer, mitigating, said references showed he was well thought of for his work at a Kart circuit, and had voluntarily helped disabled people to enjoy the sport and been actively involved in charity work.
He said: “It was a single blow and his remorse is genuine.
“It was a catastrophic injury. He knows the consequences that now follow for him and his family.”