"Violent driver" avoids jail after deliberately ramming cyclist into parked HGV, causing spinal fractures

3 grand doesn't sound very much. I've been awarded amounts not a lot less than that even for relatively minor injuries.

This clearly meets the UK legal definition of Attempted Murder Category C, Harm 1 or 2. Typical custodial time of 2 to 5 years.

This case sends a clear message that its OK to intentionally use your vehicle as a weapon to cause serious injury, the law will protect you. Until the legal system starts treating cyclists as humans, these incidents will continue to happen.

And of course the Daily Mail article has comments reinforcing the message that it's OK to wipe out cyclists - even if you get caught you won't suffer too much. 

"He is self-employed as a plumber. He has had to adapt to not being able to drive any more. It is frankly something he has had to get used to. He takes jobs in the local area. He doesn't have the means to carry around large tools."

What rubbish.

Of course he can still carry large tools. He could get a bike trailer or a cargo bike, then he can carry some pretty big tools - anything I've ever seen a plumber carry in their van will go on a bike trailer or on a cargo bike without a problem. Then once he is being regularly harassed by motorists, maybe he will understand.

Suspended sentence.  You kill me.  No really, you do.

I should put this Solicitor on a retainer, may come in handy when I ram a mini pump up the rear end of a "violent driver" suffering from "a moment of madness"....

What mechanisms are there for pushing for this to be re-examined? 

It's absolute madness. Why on earth is not being able to manage one's emotions ever able to be used in defense of a serious crime? What other crimes does it negate? 

We all have a duty to manage our emotions, if it's proven you can't (as here) you should be banned from being allowed to be in those situations. 

2 years in jail, over 6 year ban.

Westbrook overtook three to four cars and two cyclists while approaching a right-hand bend. 

The rider of the motorcycle – a man who was aged 41 at the time of the collision – was travelling in the opposite direction towards Hintlesham. 

He was left with nowhere to go when faced with Westbrook’s van coming towards him on his side of the road. On impact, he was catapulted into the air and landed on his back.

He suffered a number of injuries, including fractures to his vertebrae, fractured ribs and collapsed lungs. His spinal cord injury is so severe that he will not regain any function in his legs and will be a wheelchair user for life.

https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/24117376.daniel-westbrook-jailed-hadleigh-cr...

Not sure it's that much better for a m/c

Attempted murder is tolerated if the victim is a cyclist. It's considered 'anti-car' to jail someone for the trivial offence of using the car as a lethal weapon. Remember Rishi and Harper are on the side of these oppressed motorists. Cyclist Mr Alliston was jailed for 18mths for killing a pedestrian. He didn't chase his victim down, or ride his bike into her simply because she was a pedestrian. He rode a bike that was deemed to have insufficient brakes and was jailed. This driver chased after the cyclist and was seen deliberately ramming him into an HGV with his car, yet its deemed to be a 'moment of madness' and his hardship is not being able to drive for 2yrs.  Perhaps the cyclist would get a similar sentence, if in a moment of madness, he shoots the driver with a gun. His hardship would be being banned from using a gun for 2yrs.

Judge "Mr Purchase could have been killed by your actions......"

But hey, attempted murder isn't that serious if you use a car as the weapon, so here's suspended sentence.  Is there any other case of assault with a deadly weapon causing life-changing injuries which could have caused death that is treated as lightly as driving at someone?

"He doesn't have the means to carry around large tools." 

get a cargo bike.  Then, hopefully, you might get a taste of your own medicine. 

This is an attack on purpose with a homicide being a very possible outcome.

From now maybe I should do some overtime and get stressed at work and gain some sets of 3K, carry a foldable Strida bike and hit whoever I don't like his face and then throw the Strida bike on his (broken?) legs. I will have 40 days to relax from my stressful overtime at work.

This is beyond rediculous, so much pain, frustration and anger for the victim. This judge needs to imagine his wife or sister was handicapped due to the perpetrators momentary madness. The victim was on a bicycle, does the judge lose his/her lack of judgement due to this single fact? Maybe the judge needs to ask, " What would the punishment be if the victim was a pedestrian or in a wheelchair?".

Totally lost for words, I wish Mr Purchase all the best.

This soft-touch judge is contempable.
It's not even a lifetime driving ban, he's just inconvenienced for 2 years.

I hope Mr Purchase carries out a private prosecution and bankrupts the fucker.

What the actual fvck? Did the drivers in the cases published over the last week or so all happen to know the judges?

If you stab someone with a knife in a moment of madness is carries a 10 year sentence.

If you crush someone with a motor vehicle it carries a two year suspended sentence, three grand fine, 200 hours community work and a two year driving ban. 

What a f&*king joke. What planet does this judge live on. 

At the very bare minimum, that scumbag should never be allowed to drive again and his actions should 100% put him in prison.

Also.. they really should not take into account 'expressions of empathy and remorse' they really are insulting in cases like this. 

Quote:

"This was a moment of madness that was a reaction to the complainant's actions,"

The complainant's alleged actions, surely, Mr Snodin?  The motorist, according to the judge, thought that the victim had damaged the mirror.  Nobody has said they actually did it.

As I've said before, for serious cases like this a serious punishment needs to be doled out.
Otherwise the news to other criminals is that they will simply get away with it.

My usual suggestion also applies: loss of taste buds and libido.

And "If the punishment is just a fine, then it means it is legal for the rich."