Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Back to news
news
Crime & Legal
Fine for driver who threatened to kill cyclistStatue of Justice, Old Bailey (licensed CC BY 2.0 on Flickr by Ronnie Macdonald).jpg

Fine for driver who threatened to kill cyclist

Lewis Ellis told Philip Carter “I’ll f*ck*ng kill you” after rider complained about close pass
by Simon_MacMichael
Thu, Sep 09, 2021 12:25
34

A driver who told a cyclist “I’ll f*ck*ng kill you” after the rider complained about a close pass has been fined.

Lewis Ellis, aged 22, admitted using threatening or abusive words or behaviour towards cyclist Philip Carter, reports The Leader.

Wrexham Magistrates’ Court heard that Ellis, driving a BMW, made a close pass on Mr Carter on Queensway in the town in North Wales. 

Rhian Jackson, prosecuting, told the court that following the overtaking manoeuvre, the cyclist raised his hand and shouted, “What was that about?”

Further along the road, he passed Ellis’s vehicle and told the motorist that he had passed him too closely.

Ellis subsequently passed the cyclist again,  shouting at Mr Carter to pull over, and then parking up and getting out of his car to wait for the rider.

Afraid he would be assaulted, the cyclist did not stop, instead riding on, but Ellis drove past him again, shouting: “Pull over – I'll f*ck*ng kill you.”

Ellis eventually drove off after Mr Carter told him that he was filming what was happening on his GoPro camera.

Defending Ellis, Euros Jones said: “He will say there was an element of provocation and that he passed leaving plenty of room. But there is no excuse for his actions – he saw red.”

Ellis was fined £120 by magistrates and was also told to pay £85 costs and a £34 victim surcharge.

road rage
Simon MacMichael

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.

Add new comment

34 comments

Avatar
Steve K replied to Kendalred | 3 years ago
9 likes

Kendalred wrote:

Defending Ellis, Euros Jones said: “He will say there was an element of provocation and that he passed leaving plenty of room. 

I'm willing to bet that, no there wasn't and no, he didn't.

Still, at least he was punished with a massive deterant of...oh, wait, hang on...

I'm not sure how telling someone they passed you too closely is 'provocation' nor why anyone would say you'd passed too closely if you had left 'plenty of room'.  But maybe that's just me.

Avatar
Mungecrundle replied to Steve K | 3 years ago
8 likes

Some people don't like having their behaviour called out by strangers, just looking at someone funny, or even just looking can be perceived as a challenge. Such people should be disbarred from operating dangerous equipment and probably not allowed outside without adult supervision.

Avatar
Daveyraveygravey replied to Mungecrundle | 3 years ago
3 likes

Mungecrundle wrote:

Some people don't like having their behaviour called out by strangers, just looking at someone funny, or even just looking can be perceived as a challenge. Such people should be disbarred from operating dangerous equipment and probably not allowed outside without adult supervision.

Some people?  You mean anyone driving, surely.

 

Avatar
FrankH replied to Steve K | 3 years ago
3 likes

Steve K wrote:

I'm not sure how telling someone they passed you too closely is 'provocation' nor why anyone would say you'd passed too closely if you had left 'plenty of room'.  But maybe that's just me.

But cyclists are mental, there's no telling what they'll do to provoke a fight.

Pages

Latest Comments