Driver in road rage attack left victim with black eye

ARANGE ROVER driver from West Lancashire carried out a violent attack on a fellow motorist during a road-rage incident.

Dashcam footage shown to magistrates showed rail company director Stephen Sharkey repeatedly punching his victim as he sat in his car.

Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court heard how the 47-year-old from Skelmersdale had taken issue with the way his victim was driving in the

Pride Park area of Derby, near the Derby County FC stadium.

Both drivers exchanged words and Sharkey pulled in front of the victim in Pride Parkway.

Sharkey then got out of his car and carried out the attack, leaving his victim bruised and with a black eye.

Magistrates who presided over the case criticised Sharkey’s behaviour and handed him a community order for his actions.

The chairman of the bench said: “You come in here with an exemplary reputation, you have now lost that. The dashcam footage is most useful. From that, there were injuries caused, and you could even argue it is a sustained attack.

“For the next three years, you have to be an extremely exemplary driver. Another three points will take you to the magic number of 12.”

The court heard how the incident took place on May 20 and started in Pride Park at 5.30pm.

Rosanna McDaid, prosecuting, told the court Sharkey took issue with the victim’s driving and began “tailgating” him.

The court heard how the men exchanged words from their vehicles. Ms McDaid said the cars travelled towards Alvaston. She said the Range Rover went past the victim and pulled in front of him.

Reading a statement from the victim, Ms McDaid said: “The Range Rover stopped in the right hand lane and I saw him exit the vehicle. He came to my door and was pointing in my face, shouting.

“The male struck multiple punches.”

The footage showed the victim was able to jump free from his car. Realising he had blocked Sharkey’s path to his own car, the victim, who had previously trained as a boxer, moved to the side.

At this point, Sharkey got back in his car and drove off.

The court heard how the victim was left with a black eye and a bruise to his right armpit.

Sharkey was said to be of previous good character, had two children and was described as a director of a rail company.

Damian Nolan, mitigating, told the court Sharkey found it “impossible to watch” the footage.

He said: “He is not just of good character, he is of exemplary good character with a clean driving record. The other driver self-healed, so much so he didn’t even bother attending his final medical appointment.”

Sharkey, of Tarlswood, Skelmersdale, admitted assault by beating and driving without due care and attention.

He was given a twomonth community order, with 120 hours’ unpaid work. He was given nine points on his licence and had to pay £300 in compensation, a £90 victim surcharge and court costs of £85 – a total of £475.