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

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?