I can’t jail you... the prisons are all full, judge tells trucker in road rage case
A LORRY driver who launched a violent road rage attack on another trucker has walked free from court – because jails are too full.
The case, in which the judge suspended Fabian Greco’s 18week sentence because of guidance asking the courts to ease pressure on prisons, has been blasted as ‘shocking’.
Sentencing Greco at Medway Magistrates Court, District Judge Stephen Leake said courts have been told to avoid custodial sentences as jails are full and offenders are being held in police cells.
The judge said: ‘Road rage is taken very seriously, but you have no previous convictions and there was no trial as you pleaded guilty which meant the victim did not have to give evidence.
‘The prisons are full and Operation Safeguarding guidance was issued to relieve the pressure on the prison estates as much as possible as people were having to be held in police stations.’ Labour’s justice spokesman Steve Reed said: ‘It is shocking that this government has left dangerous criminals to roam our streets because they recklessly cut the number of cells they should be locked up in. ‘The Tories got rid of more than 10,000 prison cells since 2010, but [Justice Secretary] Dominic Raab couldn’t care less because after an avalanche of bullying allegations he is more focused on the fight to save his job.’
Mr Raab has vowed to ‘thoroughly rebut and refute’ the claims against him. Greco was driving his lorry in Dartford, Kent, last year when he almost crashed into another HGV.
After the incident on May 24, the other driver, William Harrington, followed Greco to his yard and confronted him.
Greco, from Dartford, became angry and got close to Mr Harrington’s face. The victim pushed Greco who then punched Mr Harrington to the floor. He continued to punch him and kick him on the ground. Others came to Mr Harrington’s aid and stopped the attack, which was captured on CCTV.
Greco, 29, was charged with assault by beating and admitted the offence when he appeared before Medway magistrates.
The court heard Greco was remorseful and had been given a written warning over the incident by the firm for which he has worked for six years.
As well as the jail sentence, suspended for two years, District Judge Leake also ordered Greco to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and complete eight rehabilitation sessions. He was also told to pay Mr Harrington £1,500 in compensation, a victim surcharge of £128 and £85 court costs.