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Police identify driver who unleashed torrent of abuse on Sussex cyclist (+ video)

Caution: Contains swearing. A LOT of swearing.

Sussex police have identified the driver of a Jaguar car who launched an expletive-ridden tirade at a cyclist and also appeared to punch him in a road rage incident earlier this month.

Cyclist Eddie Bell, aged 38, posted video to YouTube of the incident, which took place near Pevensey Bay, East Sussex, the weekend before last. He made a note of the vehicle’s registration number and passed it on to Sussex Police.

Quoted in the Argus, a spokesperson for Sussex Police said: “Police have the video and have identified the driver. They will be investigating this as an incident of public place violent crime.”

Here’s the video of the incident. With 25 swear words in 37 seconds, it’s very definitely Not Suitable For Work:

From what Mr Bell says in the description to the YouTube video, it seems that the driver may have interpreted what the cyclist says was “a cheeky wave” as an altogether more insulting gesture, although even so the reaction would strike most as being way over the top.

Mr Bell said:

This guy pulled into the green cyclist box on the approach to Pevensey Bay indicating that he was turning left so I gestured as if to say what are you doing this is a cyclist / motorcycle box to protect us from what you're about to do.

He wound down the window and spat some abuse and then sped off turning left towards Beachlands. I gave him a cheeky wave (not anything more) and cycled on towards Eastbourne forgetting about the matter.

He later passed me very close and drove down to Martello Road where he waited for me. I noticed that my go-pro was dead and this is when I got my phone out as I could see what was going to happen. There is no preceding footage as my go-pro battery had died.

I took the video on my phone as I thought it would deter the driver from over reacting. With a bike between my legs and one of my feet still cleated into the pedals, what more could you expect me to do?

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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59 comments

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chrisc | 10 years ago
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Sorry but I've been in that situation myself.

He was a wanker as well, I told him so again and when I threw my bike in the verge and approached him at speed he ran away like the wanker he was.

Am afraid that in the heat of the moment I would have reduced this particular wanker to a heap of shit snivelling for his mother.

You wouldn't like me when I'm angry  31

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Skylark | 10 years ago
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Piss poor cyclist.

OAP sitting behind the wheel of the Jag has more gaul than the active, not-so-fit cyclist.

Got to laugh, he's waiting for him at the side of the road.

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w jones | 10 years ago
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A good posting by the cyclist I say, if it had been the other way round no doubt the press would be all over us cyclists like a rash..

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philtregear | 10 years ago
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if you are going to call someone a wanker, you need to be prepared to back it up with firmly pointing out what he did to cause such a reaction. I have no idea what preceded this altercation. Had the cyclist said words to the effect " sorry for swearing at you but you endangered my safety by.............." some good might have come out of this. As it is , it just reinforced the drivers belief he had nothing wrong and had been unfairly abused.

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paulfg42 | 10 years ago
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"Am I a wanker or not?"

Yep, you're a total wanker.

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80sMatchbox | 10 years ago
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We should have a poll, Wanker /Not a Wanker....and once his name has been published(hopefully), send him the link.  16

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skippy | 10 years ago
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Always thought that a " Driver's permit 2 was required to drive a Vehicle , not an overdose of aggression ?

Seem to recall that some lose their licence for " road rage " , guess shanks pony is about to become the drivers means of transport , since i doubt he has the intelligence to ride a BIKE ?

Those that want to support Cyclists should " LIKE "

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Vision-ZERO-Worldwide/540123632761709

costs a few seconds but the LIFE you help save , may well be your OWN !

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Matt eaton | 10 years ago
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I think that the cyclist shows a good deal of self-control here. If I had found myself in this situation I almost certainly would have hit the bloke back. Looking at his body language as he approaches and the simple fact that he stopped his car to engage in a confrontation I might even have hit him first, probably with my chainring.

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Beefy replied to Skylark | 10 years ago
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dogcc wrote:

Piss poor cyclist.

OAP sitting behind the wheel of the Jag has more gaul than the active, not-so-fit cyclist.

Got to laugh, he's waiting for him at the side of the road.

You have to be joking? Piss poor cyclist, why? Because he is a cyclist not a fighter? Get real. If that OAP had of been put on his arse there would have been an out cry. I remember a similar incident happening to me when the driver locked himself in the car because I sort of lost it. Big mistake on my part, the bloke was then sat in a few tone of iron I got away with out getting run over. Best to stay cool and report to police. It may be piss poor to some but being adult to most I suspect, I wish I had that much calm control in such a confrontational situation

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Skylark replied to Beefy | 10 years ago
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Beefy wrote:
dogcc wrote:

Piss poor cyclist.

OAP sitting behind the wheel of the Jag has more gaul than the active, not-so-fit cyclist.

Got to laugh, he's waiting for him at the side of the road.

You have to be joking? Piss poor cyclist, why? Because he is a cyclist not a fighter? Get real. If that OAP had of been put on his arse there would have been an out cry. I remember a similar incident happening to me when the driver locked himself in the car because I sort of lost it. Big mistake on my part, the bloke was then sat in a few tone of iron I got away with out getting run over. Best to stay cool and report to police. It may be piss poor to some but being adult to most I suspect, I wish I had that much calm control in such a confrontational situation

Why?

Because he found himself in that situation and didn't back himself up. Comes across as a wimp, surely after offering first bate by ticking the driver off surely.
As a cyclist you've got to be a 'fighter'. Maybe now you know Why.

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sq225917 | 10 years ago
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I would have ridden down the road and then wobbled off my bike and fallen into car as some sort of delayed reaction to getting punched kicked in. That lovely Jag might have got proper scratched up in my post face punched state.

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levermonkey | 10 years ago
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It's just not fair! I never get to have these discussions with car drivers.
The wife says it's because I'm 6'2", 100kg, with a shaved head, beard and "a natural air of belligerence" [Whatever that means].
I think their just being unfriendly!

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Debs007 replied to levermonkey | 8 years ago
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levermonkey wrote:

It's just not fair! I never get to have these discussions with car drivers.
The wife says it's because I'm 6'2", 100kg, with a shaved head, beard and "a natural air of belligerence" [Whatever that means].
I think their just being unfriendly!

Haha...it's well worth it when it happens. Happened to the bf & I once. Watching the little shit desperately trying to crawl up his backside & scuttle away apologising was hilarious!

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martib | 10 years ago
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How is it that we have widespread campaigns to stop domestic violence, bullying/intimidation in the workplace and online. Yet as soon as someone gets in a car it is OK/accepted to bully/intimidate other road users whether they be in cars, on bikes or pedestrians.  102

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gazpacho | 10 years ago
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I'd wager his bark is a lot worse than his bite.

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userfriendly | 10 years ago
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*sigh* Yeah ... I'd rather have more cameras everywhere and more resources for the police. I don't want to inflict violence on people, I want people to get done for it when they inflict violence on someone.

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Housecathst | 10 years ago
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If that had happened to me I'd have put my d-lock through his window screen as I rode passed his car.

I would have end up regretting if afterwards.

I'm sure that despite the fact that he had assaulted me the damage to his car would be seen as the greater offence

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Karbon Kev | 10 years ago
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very very typical of the attitude of british drivers who think they own the road.

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KiwiMike | 10 years ago
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Judging by his age and car, there's a possibility he's a company director/owner. I'd like to see him identified and the full weight of a cyclist/friends-of-cyclist opprobrium brought down upon his wallet.

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chadders | 10 years ago
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That incident made the local paper!! My god even less happens in Sussex than here in North Wales.
Problem is this excuse for a human being will be a cult hero in his local pub to his face for making the papers but most people will know what he really is.

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Ush | 10 years ago
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Dear Sussex Police,

We know the identity of the victim of this assault [1], now how about releasing the identity of the alleged perpetrator (i.e. the foul-mouthed, flabby old, pathetic cock in the video?)

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assault

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Airzound | 10 years ago
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Judging by the driver's behaviour I think he has done this or similar before. Maybe has a record already. If he doesn't he will hopefully have one soon. He needs locking up. A Jag is a very poor choice of vehicle.

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PhilRuss replied to Airzound | 10 years ago
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Airzound wrote:

Judging by the driver's behaviour I think he has done this or similar before. Maybe has a record already. If he doesn't he will hopefully have one soon. He needs locking up. A Jag is a very poor choice of vehicle.

[[[[[ Er...no, because there's always a first time for this stuff....but it certainly is behaviour "likely to lead to a breach of the peace", or whatever they call it now. Makes you wonder if one-jag had been at the booze.
P.R.

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PhilRuss replied to PhilRuss | 10 years ago
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PhilRuss wrote:
Airzound wrote:

Judging by the driver's behaviour I think he has done this or similar before. Maybe has a record already. If he doesn't he will hopefully have one soon. He needs locking up. A Jag is a very poor choice of vehicle.

[[[[[ Er...no, because there's always a first time for this stuff....but it certainly is behaviour "likely to lead to a breach of the peace", or whatever they call it now. Makes you wonder if one-jag had been at the booze.
P.R.

[[[[[ Oops! Sorry,this WAS a breach of the peace, committed by a thoroughly nasty piece of work.
P.R.

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cyclingdave70 | 10 years ago
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Watching this it says that the cyclist put up his hand to show that the driver is in the wrong.
Although there's nothing wrong with this, but I think I forget that hand gestures are so much more "visible" than in in a car.
I will try and be doubly cautious next time I'm remonstrating.

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denzzz28 | 10 years ago
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I really hope and wish that I dont ever get in to this situation as I will definitely put a fist on his face if he hits me. im sure once adrenaline kicks in I can somehow take off my shoes.

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Ush replied to denzzz28 | 10 years ago
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denzzz28 wrote:

I really hope and wish that I dont ever get in to this situation as I will definitely put a fist on his face if he hits me. im sure once adrenaline kicks in I can somehow take off my shoes.

This is only the internet, but I'm with you. I try to avoid this sort of thing, but if some git stops and threatens me then I hope to defend myself, and if you do succesfully then good on you.

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arfa | 10 years ago
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Whatever happened before, this driver has clearly got anger management issues. The sooner there is a "fit and proper" caveat added to driving licences because mentally, this guy should not be on the road. If the rozzers can introduce a speed awareness course for speeding offences then surely it is time for an anger management course ? If you can't keep it together you shouldn't be behind the wheel of the car.
I hope this guy is made an example of. From the comments section it is patently clear this is needed "pour encouraged les autres".

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Beefy | 10 years ago
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Don't think I would have been so kind to the old w@&ker c@nt. I think reasonable force could have been applied to prevent him further assaulting the rider.

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stealth | 10 years ago
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Here's another word he forgot

Nobjockey

...he is just another 'road tax' freak, would be my guess.
Could be wrong.

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