Motorist Richard Hudson attacked motorcyclist at Dover forecourt after 'hand gesture'
by Paul Hooper
Furious car driver Richard Hudson lost his cool with
a motorcyclist who he claimed had made an obscene gesture
towards him.
The 45-year-old followed victim David Woodland into a petrol
station in Folkestone Road, Dover, and attacked him.
Dominic Connolly, prosecuting, told Canterbury Crown
Court the incident was captured on CCTV and played to the
judge.
It showed Hudson, of Cromwell Park Place, Folkestone, getting
out of his car and kicking 33-year-old Mr Woodland – leaving him
with a broken wrist – while other motorists ignored the fracas and
carried on filling their tanks.
Hudson pleaded guilty to assault and was ordered to pay his
victim £500 compensation – will have to do 150 hours of unpaid
work for the community.
The prosecutor said the attack happened on January 9 at 4pm as
Mr Woodland was riding his scooter and stopped at the BP garage to
fill up.
"While he was there, this defendant pulled in at speed directly
behind him. Mr Woodland was then pushed to the ground and was
kicked two or three times – one to the side of his helmet.
"Hudson had been shouting at him during the attack and then got
back into his vehicle and drove away."
Mr Woodland was later treated for an eight-inch bruise to his
forearm and pain to his neck muscles.
"People in cars behave in a way towards each other that they would never do if they passed each other on the street..." – Judge Nigel Van Der Bijl
Paul Green, defending, said Hudson was in slow traffic when the
scooter rider made an obscene hand gesture "after weaving in and
out of traffic".
He claimed the motorist had stopped at the garage to get cash
when he saw Mr Woodland.
"It was a coincidence that they were there together. He was
angry when the motorcyclist again became abusive to him."
Mr Green said Hudson has suffered from depression and the loss
of his mother and step father as well as the breakdown of
his marriage had led to a suicide attempt.
Judge Nigel Van Der Bijl ordered he should spend the next
three months under partial house arrest – after being given an
8pm-6am electronically-tagged curfew.
"People in cars behave in a way towards each other that they
would never do if they passed each other on the street. Sadly it's
an all-too-common feature."
06/11/12
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