Navy officer cleared over racist road rage
Commander, accused of abusive language during row, says he referred to dock worker’s ‘black car’
‘We saw a stop gesture, not a gesture of abuse’
A ROYAL Navy commander has been cleared of racially abusing a motorist while cycling to work after judges were unable to determine whether he was referring to the man’s “black car” or the colour of his skin during a row.
Commander Robert Satterly was accused of calling dock worker Shane Newton a “black c---” in a heated roadside argument during his daily commute.
However, the experienced Navy officer insisted he had simply said “black car” in reference to Mr Newton’s Mercedes.
Following a brief trial, 10 months after the incident took place, magistrates needed just 20 minutes to find the 47-year-old not guilty – saying they “can’t be sure exactly what words were used on that day”.
Cdr Satterly (inset below) has served in the Royal Navy for 23 years.
Currently, he is stationed at HMS Excellent, an onshore base which is home to Naval Headquarters and front-line training units on Whale Island in Portsmouth Harbour, Hampshire.
Cdr Satterly appeared before magistrates in the city where he denied one count of racially aggravated harassment.
The court heard that on Jan 11 this year Cdr Satterly took his daughter to school and then cycled to work, arriving at 7.45am.
At the same time, Mr Newton, a civilian, arrived at the main entrance to the base. Both men were waiting at traffic lights at right angles to each other at the junction when the incident that sparked the row took place.
The court heard that as the traffic light on his road turned green, Mr Newton drove forward but was forced to stop in the middle of the junction due to another vehicle.
By the time he was able to move again, Cdr Satterly’s lights had turned green and as he cycled forward the two men almost collided.
Describing what happened next, Laura Jenkings-rees, prosecuting, said: “There is an argument between the two men and Mr Newton will say he used swear words but there comes a moment in time when [Cdr Satterly] utters the words ‘you black c---’.”
Mr Newton told the court he found it “offensive” to suggest he had confused the use of the word “black” as referencing his skin and not his car, as Cdr Satterly claimed.
Mr Newton has worked in the dockyards since 2008 and told the court he was “100 per cent positive” which phrase was used.
Giving his version of events, Mr Newton said: “[Cdr Satterly] signalled with his right middle finger and shouted something along the lines of ‘you f---ing idiot’.”
He added: “He said he had my registration plate and mentioned the naval base commander – I said I didn’t care who he knew.
“It was at that point he said the words ‘f--- off, you black c---’.”
Magistrates agreed that an altercation took place and that “questionable language was used”.
However, addressing Cdr Satterly, Michelle Carter, the lead magistrate, said: “Our findings are that we did see a stop gesture and not a gesture of abuse.
“We find that Mr Newton was initially aggressive and did try to get out of the car.