Man, 36, who attacked motorist for sounding horn is spared prison

A MOTORIST was attacked after sounding his horn at a car that was blocking the road as he tried to drive home.

The victim discovered his route was blocked by a green car, at around 6pm on May 24, 2021, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

After waiting a while he sounded his horn, which provoked an angry reaction from those inside the other vehicle.

A passenger inside the vehicle began shouting abuse at him, and the car followed him until he came to a stop by some garages.

The victim initially threw a punch at Sean Mcalindon, who had been inside the car. But Mcalindon responded by attacking him.

The 36-year-old, who has previous convictions for affray and assault, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm. In sentencing him to 26 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, Judge Toby Hedworth KC said: “The courts can’t tolerate violence. This is a very unpleasant incident.

“It’s one where you shouldn’t have got involved, no matter who started it, whether in terms of being inpatient, or in lashing out at you when you went across to see him.

“The reality is you did deliver a number of blows to him, including knocking his glasses off.”

The judge told him the offence could have landed him in jail. But after hearing how he was a dad-of-three and a carer for a friend, he decided to suspend the sentence

“A number of factors go in your favour,” he said. “I accept that you are a hard-working individual. This is an opportunity, if you don’t take it, it’s a bleak outlook.”

Mcalindon, of Saxon Way in Jarrow, was also ordered to do 160 hours’ unpaid work.

Sean Mcalindon