Road rage thug hit stranger on head with pole

A ROAD rage driver smashed a metal pole across a stranger’s head, leaving blood trickling down his ear.

Mohammed Chaudhry, 29, confronted his victim and followed him to a residential street after taking issue with the way he drove on Kingsway in Cheadle, Stockport.

Manchester Crown Court heard how on November 9, 2018, the victim was driving home from work when he became aware of a VW Golf being driven by the defendant.

Chaudhry, who runs his parents’ clothing business, became angered by the victim’s driving as he had ‘indicated to pull out, noticed the car behind him and then stopped,’ prosecutor Simon Barrett said.

The defendant, of Kingsway in Cheadle, ‘began waving his hand’ and ‘continued to act aggressively.’

“At one point (the defendant) came to a complete stop, causing him to have to drive around him,” Mr Barrett said.

The victim drove a different direction home, but Chaudhry followed him.

The victim pulled over on Alderdale Road. The pair stopped and got out of their cars.

CCTV and dashcam footage was played to the court of the incident.

“The defendant was armed with a metal pole, he was acting aggressively, said he knew people in the area who would ‘bang him out.’

“The defendant struck him with the pole, with force, and to the side of his head. He felt blood running from his ear.”

Chaudhry then got back into his car and drove off.

The victim was taken to hospital with injuries to the back of his head and ear. They ‘lifted his skin flap, exposing cartilage,’ Mr Barrett said. The defendant was arrested the following day. When he was questioned he said he had acted in self defence, and that he hit the victim with ‘folded foil.’

He ‘later accepted it was a metal pole,’ Mr Barrett said.

A victim impact statement read to the court heard how the incident had a ‘massive impact’ on the man’s life.

“It has left me frightened and scared. I can’t seem to move on. Sometimes I wake up in a sweat from nightmares,” he said.

Adam Brown, defending, told the court that Chaudhry had no previous convictions.

“It was a single blow and he has expressed remorse. He doesn’t know why he acted so aggressively, it is totally out of character. He didn’t intend to cause serious injuries,” he said.

Mr Brown told the court that if Chaudhry received a custodial sentence, he would be unable to run the business ‘leaving three people unemployed.’

Chaudhry previously pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding and possession of an offensive weapon.

Chaudhry, 29, was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for 12 months. He will be subject to a curfew between 8pm and 7am for three months. He must also pay the victim £800 in compensation.