Jail for moped riders who viciously attacked cyclist after he passed them in traffic jam

Two moped delivery drivers have been jailed following a road rage attack in Southsea in which they knocked a cyclist off his bike after he rode past them in traffic, then hit him with a motorbike helmet, breaking his arm and jaw.

Matheus and Vinicius Dos Anjos, who are cousins, admitted causing grievous bodily harm on the second day of their trial at Portsmouth Crown Court.

Portsmouth News reports that cyclist Andrew Storey had ridden past them in a traffic jam on Fawcett Road in Southsea at around 7pm on 21 September 2017.

Thomas Wilkins, prosecuting, said: “Just before the attack the traffic was not as freely moving. It seemed because [Mr Storey] was on a push bike he was making quicker progress than them. That may have irritated them and became the spark of road rage.”

He said that coming off a roundabout, one of the pair hit the rear wheel of Mr Storey’s bike, knocking him off.

The victim landed on his back, but as he attempted to get to his feet, the other rider drove into him, hitting him on the ribs.

Mr Watkins continued: “Both defendants get off the bikes putting them on their stands.

“Matheus initiated the violence, hitting him on the cheek where after Vinicius grabbed him in a sleeper hold taking him to the floor, wrapping his legs round Mr Storey.

“It was then that Matheus used his helmet, moving to hit him in the face.

“At that point Mr Storey, who was off work for weeks, lifted his arm to protect himself. The helmet landed on his arm. He heard a crack and a very sharp pain.

“The attack with the helmet continued. Bystanders gathered. Before they made off the defendants threatened the bystanders.

“No doubt believing they were going to be traced by their number plates the next evening they handed themselves in,” he added.

Mr Storey, a self-employed painter and decorator, revealed the ongoing effects of the attack in a statement.

“Since the incident my life has changed dramatically,” he said. “I have lost my home, my partner and still have not financially recovered from it.

“I still don’t have much work as I did and don’t have the same strength in my right arm.’

Judge Michael Bowes QC jailed both defendants for two years minus 73 days due to their guilty pleas.

He said: “You both lost your tempers and genuinely attacked him beating him with a motorcycle helmet and causing him serious injury.

“He was hit a number of times with the helmet by you Matheus whilst your cousin Vinicius held him down. “The injuries are substantial in that he had a fractured jaw and a broken arm which required surgery.

“Whatever may have happened at the outset this repeated incident became a wholly unjustified attack.”

The defendants had changed their plea to guilty after the judge said he would issue a court summons for Mr Storey, whom their lawyer claimed had provoked the incident by behaving “in a provocative manner,” to appear as a witness.

Detective Constable David Freeman of Hampshire Constabulary said: “We simply do not tolerate this type of violence in the city, and the sentence handed to these two men reflects the severity of this case.

“This was a shocking example of mindless road rage perpetrated by two men who will now suffer the consequences of their actions. I am pleased that justice has now been served.”