Motorist spared jail after road rage row
AMOTORIST who knocked over another driver in a road rage incident on a busy trunk road has been given a suspended jail sentence.
A judge sentenced Peter Anderson to eight months, suspended for 18 months, and ordered him to carry out 150 hours unpaid work.
He also ordered him to pay his victim Charles Starkey £250 compensation and banned him from driving for 18 months after which he will have to take an extended re-test before he can get back behind the wheel.
Recorder Stephen Bedford told him during sentencing last Wednesday (December 21) that after viewing footage of the incident “there is a degree of road rage on both sides.”
He said that while the victim’s reaction contributed to the incident to some extent “that is no excuse for the way you drove that particular day and the way you drove in such a way as to cause him to fall into the road at a busy junction.”
He pointed out that the victim was fortunate not to have suffered more serious injury or been knocked into the path of other vehicles.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that the two men had exchanged words after Anderson’s Ford Focus had “cut him up” and while 58-year-old Mr Starkey stood directly in front of his car he drove forward.
“Mr Starkey could not move in time and the glancing blow knocked him off balance and he rolled over the bonnet and ended up on the road,” said Frank Dillon, prosecuting.
Anderson continued onwards but stopped a short distance further down by Switch Island at Maghull by which time another motorist had stopped his car to come to the victim’s aid.
The whole incident was graphically captured on the dashboard camera in Mr Starkey’s car and played to the court.
It showed the white Focus pulling sharply in front of Mr Starkey’s car and Mr Starkey beeped his horn and flashed his headlights. When the two cars drew level a little further along Dunnings Bridge Road, Mr Starkey shouted at the driver, “use your eyes.”
They both began to move forward but Anderson pulled sharply in front of him and got out and shouted, “what are you saying, s… house?”
Mr Starkey, who told his wife sitting alongside him to phone 999, got out and it was when he was in front of the Focus that he was knocked over, said Mr Dillon.
When treated later that day, January 9, the victim, who had limped back to his car, was found to have tenderness to the left side of his abdomen. In interview in March Anderson said that the victim had contributed to the incident but in hindsight he would have done things differently and was sorry for any injury he had caused.
Anderson, 54, of Noel Gate, Aughton, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving.
Michael O’Brien, defending, said that Anderson has no previous convictions and now realises he had been suffering from depression and stress after the death of his mum and work pressures.
He has now changed jobs, is on medication and having counselling. He is a dedicated family man described in references as “conscientious, warm and trustworthy.”