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Hampshire cyclists punched by van occupant in separate incidents yesterday - Police appeal for witnesses

Incidents happened on Sunday near Southampton, police urge anyone with photos or video footage to come forward

Cyclists in Hampshire say they were punched on Sunday by the passenger of a van in unprovoked attacks, with police having been made aware of several such incidents.

One rider, Alex Parker, said he suffered concussion as a result of an assault on him, which happened a little after 9.30am yesterday.

He wrote on Facebook that after visiting his mother first thing, he was cycling towards Botley, which lies just to the east of Southampton.

He said: “This psychopath in the white van decided to drive his van into me,” while “the passenger leant out of the window and punched me in the back of the head.”

Mr Parker said the incident, which he described as a “totally unprovoked attack,” left him very upset and not wanting to ride his bike any more.

Michael Stevens posted to the Facebook page of his cycling club, Fareham Wheelers, about a similar incident that happened to him as he rode to the Sunday morning club run.

Another rider who was around a minute away from him on the road was also punched, and others commenting on the thread said they had suffered verbal abuse or violence from what appeared to be the same people.

Mr Spencer said that Hampshire Constabulary had received five reports of similar incidents possibly involving the same vehicle that happened yesterday by time he spoke to them.

A member of a Facebook group for local residents in Colden Common, around five miles northwest of Botley, posted to the social network yesterday to describe her experience.

She wrote: “A warning to runners out in the village this morning and potentially the future.

“I was running along the B1277 this morning towards Lower Upham when a small white van drove as close as it could to me and a man reached out of his window (passenger side) and thumped me in the stomach whilst releasing an egg across my tummy and shouting a very offensive profanity.

“Obviously it was a huge shock and very frightening,” she added.

Police have asked for anyone who was affected by the van and its occupants or who has video footage or still photos to contact them on 101 quoting reference 44170112788.

The vehicle is described as a white van with the registration number EK66LHE, and the passenger was wearing a red shirt. A check on the registration suggests the vehicle is a Citroen Berlingo 625.

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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13 comments

Avatar
Accessibility f... | 7 years ago
3 likes

One, a number plate doesn't guarantee you'll find the vehicle.  You may find its last registered keeper, but that's that.  It could be anywhere, owned by anyone and driven by anyone.  Two, they're building a case - that's why they want to hear from people.  The more victims they have, the stronger the prosecution's case.

Avatar
burtthebike | 7 years ago
1 like

These were unprovoked attacks which fortunately didn't have much more serious consequences: they could have resulted in serious injury or death.  The police had better be treating this with the utmost gravity.

If they are caught, what punishment could possibly be appropriate?  Exile to some third world country?  Loss of licence forever?  A period at her majesty's pleasure?  Tagged for life?

Avatar
6F2 | 7 years ago
6 likes

Crowdfund a private prosecution, I'd cough up for that

Avatar
tritecommentbot replied to 6F2 | 7 years ago
5 likes

6F2 wrote:

Crowdfund a private prosecution, I'd cough up for that

 

Same, no hesitation at all. 

 

Still don't get why when there's a number plate they can't track the van down to an address. Surely a 30 second job at the back office of any copshop? Police do get information super fast when they want to, like in a car chase or whatever. 

Avatar
downfader replied to 6F2 | 7 years ago
1 like

6F2 wrote:

Crowdfund a private prosecution, I'd cough up for that

 

This is the way the country is heading. A few of us have been told there are only 2 coppers on duty for the WHOLE of the road network around the south of Hants area of any given night. Dashcams and cycle cameras will become a must.

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spen | 7 years ago
2 likes

I can see this going something as long the lines of "Wasn't me guv" "OK, be on your way then"

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usedtobefaster | 7 years ago
3 likes

WTF is wrong with some people these days, makes my blood boil.  Catch them and send them one-way to Syria to see just how little and pathetic they really are as human beings.

 

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MarkOne | 7 years ago
6 likes

Er..... They've got the number plate plus a trillion cctv cameras.. Why the appeals?

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jfparis replied to MarkOne | 7 years ago
1 like

MarkOne wrote:

Er..... They've got the number plate plus a trillion cctv cameras.. Why the appeals?

Busy chasing cyclists with no cycle lights at the moment so just trying to delay doing anything for a while

Needless to say that with the switch to BST, the chasing folks with no cycle lights is becoming more complicated  1

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downfader replied to MarkOne | 7 years ago
2 likes

MarkOne wrote:

Er..... They've got the number plate plus a trillion cctv cameras.. Why the appeals?

Put simply cyclists and joggers have been attempting to report similar to the Police for years. The Police first asked for evidence (their job in reality), so people eventually used iphones and cycle cameras to record said attacks. Hants Police then told said victims that it isn't evidence as its not been a) witnessed by an independent 3rd party and/or b) they don't know how to view said filetype.

The truth be told from the victims perspective trust has been lost in the Police.

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OldRidgeback | 7 years ago
7 likes

Three assaults in a short space of time. As the police have the vehicle registration it shouldn't be hard to track down who was driving. Assault is a criminal offence.

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Grahamd replied to OldRidgeback | 7 years ago
1 like

OldRidgeback wrote:

Three assaults in a short space of time. As the police have the vehicle registration it shouldn't be hard to track down who was driving. Assault is a criminal offence.

Will require the will of the police, driver will just say he leant his van to a mate and get away with it, sadly.

Avatar
Bob's Bikes | 7 years ago
8 likes

Words fail me

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