Gun pointed at pizza delivery man Philip Evenden who refused to take part in Dover street race
by Paul Hooper
Pizza delivery man Phillip Evenden refused to be goaded
into having a street race... and found himself looking down
the barrel of a pistol.
Mr Evenden had been a passenger in a car driven by a friend when
they stopped at lights in London Road, Dover, last June.
Pulling up next to him was rival Connor Lawrence in his back
Vauxhall Corsa who then challenged him to have a race, Canterbury
Crown Court heard.
And when Mr Evenden rejected the offer, the jobless gardener
produced a weapon from his car and pointed at his rival – after
telling a friend he wanted to scare him.
Ian Foinette, prosecuting, said: "There had been problems
between the two previously. When they arrived at the lights, the
defendant began mouthing things at Mr Evenden.
"There was then some sort of challenge for a race but Mr Evenden
was not interested. Lawrence then began speeding up and slowing
down.
"At one point Mr Evenden saw what appeared to be a pistol in the
hands of Lawrence. He, being a former Sea Cadet, knew something
about weapons and thought it appeared to be realistic.
"Anyone seeing it from a short distance perhaps be forgiven for
thinking it was the real thing. It was then pointed in his
direction before the cars moved away."
Lawrence, of Crabble Lane, River, Dover, pleaded guilty to
possessing an imitation firearm and was given a suspended jail
sentence.
"This was an extraordinary stupid act…” – Judge Nigel Van Der Bijl
The court heard the weapon turned out to be as toy imitation,
which Lawence claimed belonged to his 12-year-old brother.
Lawrence told police he had got hold of the weapon, which was in
the back of the car, after telling a friend: "I want to scare him
(Evenden)."
Paul Humpherson, defending, said Mr Evenden later told
police he had not been scared by the gun incident.
Judge Nigel Van Der Bijl gave Lawrence a 12-month jail sentence
- suspended for two years - and ordered him to do 200 hours of
unpaid work as well as pay £500 costs.
He was also given a three-month electronic curfew order to
remain at his home between 7pm and 7am.
The judge told him: "This was an extraordinary stupid act."
06/02/13
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