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https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/uk-news/road-rage-van-driver-punched-31479188
Adrian Burrows
"A cyclist was left with a 3cm gash on his ear after an furious van driver punched him in the face for not using a bike path. Adrian Burrows, 40, slammed on his brakes and jumped out of his car before assaulting the 57-year-old cyclist, who was on a bike ride with his wife in Bridlington.
The van driver had become enraged after an "emotionally charged" argument with the cyclist, in which he called him a "f***ing southerner", Hull Crown Court heard.
Prosecutor Jennifer Gatland told the court that the couple were cycling along Kingsgate in the Yorkshire seaside town at around 9am on June 29 when Burrows passed them in a van, Hull Live reports.
She told the court he shouted at them: "There's a f***ing bike path over there."
The court heard that the cyclist replied: "What is it to do with you, mate?" to which Burrows responded: "F*** off, you southern c***".
Burrows then drove in front of the couple before slamming on his brakes at a bus stop and jumping out of his vehicle.
The cyclist had to slam on his brakes and swerve into the road to prevent crashing into the van, the court heard.
Burrows walked up to the cyclist and immediately punched him in the left side of his face, leaving him feeling dazed. The cyclist was still upright with his right leg attached to the bicycle through the stirrup.
Burrows then threw the cyclist's bike onto the floor leaving it damaged and scratched, Ms Gatland told the court.
The cyclist's wife shouted to Burrows: "What's wrong with you? Are you on drugs?"
The cyclist then took the keys of the van and told his wife to phone the police, the court heard. However the cyclist then gave the keys back to Burrows fearing he may be assaulted again.
Ms Gatland said the cyclist went to an urgent treatment centre in Bridlington to get his injuries looked at. He had swelling, sore ribs, and bruising to his knee and legs, the court heard.
The cyclist had also suffered a 3cm laceration in the folds of his ear, which had to be glued back together.
The bicycle suffered a snapped gear mechanism and damaged handlebars, which cost £133 to repair.
Burrows, 40, of Chapel Garth, Skipsea, admitted assaulting the man, causing actual bodily harm, and causing criminal damage to the bicycle.
The cyclist said he had felt "anxious and nervous every time I go out on the bike" in the 10 months since the assault. "I am always on edge every time a vehicle passes me," he said.
"I struggle to comprehend the level of hatred to cyclists," he added.
The cyclist also said he "never thought being a southerner was so much of a problem with some people".
Oliver Shipley, mitigating for Burrows, said that the father-of-two had never been in trouble for violence in his life. The court heard that he has a previous conviction for possessing cannabis in 2012.
Mr Shipley told the court that it has been an "ordinary day" for the defendant, a self-employed bathroom fitter, who was in his work van.
He said there was a disagreement with the cyclist over the laws of the road for cyclists and where they should be positioned on the road.
Mr Shipley told the court: "What can't be justified or minimised is his behaviour following discussions with the cyclist about what happened. He makes no effort to minimise or excuse his behaviour. He knows that, to defuse that situation, there are other means available to him other than an act that was well in excess of self-defence."
He said the roadside incident was "emotionally charged" and said it was "unfortunate that this has got the better of the defendant in that situation".
Mr Shipley added: "He is sorry for having acted in this way. This was not committed under the influence of alcohol. It was committed in the course of the working day.
"This was short-lived. The defendant accepts that this would have been particularly unpleasant for the complainant and his partner, having set out on their bikes not expecting the day to include this type of event. He has learned his lesson."
Adrian Burrows
Adrian Burrows
"A cyclist was left with a 3cm gash on his ear after an furious van driver punched him in the face for not using a bike path. Adrian Burrows, 40, slammed on his brakes and jumped out of his car before assaulting the 57-year-old cyclist, who was on a bike ride with his wife in Bridlington.
The van driver had become enraged after an "emotionally charged" argument with the cyclist, in which he called him a "f***ing southerner", Hull Crown Court heard.
Prosecutor Jennifer Gatland told the court that the couple were cycling along Kingsgate in the Yorkshire seaside town at around 9am on June 29 when Burrows passed them in a van, Hull Live reports.
She told the court he shouted at them: "There's a f***ing bike path over there."
The court heard that the cyclist replied: "What is it to do with you, mate?" to which Burrows responded: "F*** off, you southern c***".
Burrows then drove in front of the couple before slamming on his brakes at a bus stop and jumping out of his vehicle.
The cyclist had to slam on his brakes and swerve into the road to prevent crashing into the van, the court heard.
Burrows walked up to the cyclist and immediately punched him in the left side of his face, leaving him feeling dazed. The cyclist was still upright with his right leg attached to the bicycle through the stirrup.
Burrows then threw the cyclist's bike onto the floor leaving it damaged and scratched, Ms Gatland told the court.
The cyclist's wife shouted to Burrows: "What's wrong with you? Are you on drugs?"
The cyclist then took the keys of the van and told his wife to phone the police, the court heard. However the cyclist then gave the keys back to Burrows fearing he may be assaulted again.
Ms Gatland said the cyclist went to an urgent treatment centre in Bridlington to get his injuries looked at. He had swelling, sore ribs, and bruising to his knee and legs, the court heard.
The cyclist had also suffered a 3cm laceration in the folds of his ear, which had to be glued back together.
The bicycle suffered a snapped gear mechanism and damaged handlebars, which cost £133 to repair.
Burrows, 40, of Chapel Garth, Skipsea, admitted assaulting the man, causing actual bodily harm, and causing criminal damage to the bicycle.
The cyclist said he had felt "anxious and nervous every time I go out on the bike" in the 10 months since the assault. "I am always on edge every time a vehicle passes me," he said.
"I struggle to comprehend the level of hatred to cyclists," he added.
The cyclist also said he "never thought being a southerner was so much of a problem with some people".
Oliver Shipley, mitigating for Burrows, said that the father-of-two had never been in trouble for violence in his life. The court heard that he has a previous conviction for possessing cannabis in 2012.
Mr Shipley told the court that it has been an "ordinary day" for the defendant, a self-employed bathroom fitter, who was in his work van.
He said there was a disagreement with the cyclist over the laws of the road for cyclists and where they should be positioned on the road.
Mr Shipley told the court: "What can't be justified or minimised is his behaviour following discussions with the cyclist about what happened. He makes no effort to minimise or excuse his behaviour. He knows that, to defuse that situation, there are other means available to him other than an act that was well in excess of self-defence."
He said the roadside incident was "emotionally charged" and said it was "unfortunate that this has got the better of the defendant in that situation".
Mr Shipley added: "He is sorry for having acted in this way. This was not committed under the influence of alcohol. It was committed in the course of the working day.
"This was short-lived. The defendant accepts that this would have been particularly unpleasant for the complainant and his partner, having set out on their bikes not expecting the day to include this type of event. He has learned his lesson."
Adrian Burrows
