A taxi driver deliberately knocked a cyclist over in a "moment of madness" after he drove too close to him and the victim slapped his car bonnet. He lost his job as a result of the assault which left the cyclist with minor injuries.
Martin Godfrey, 57, drove into Paul Doody in Cardiff on June 27 last year after a confrontation during which the cyclist knocked his wing mirror. It resulted in Mr Doody being thrown over his handlebars and over a wall.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday heard the cyclist was riding along Colchester Avenue, Penylan, when he sensed the defendant's Jaguar was close to him. Prosecutor Ieuan Bennett said: "The defendant was driving far too close to him giving him no room at all."
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When they stopped at traffic lights, Mr Doody's elbow touched the wing mirror of Godfrey's car. The cyclist then slapped the wing mirror in order to draw the driver's attention to how close his car was to him. But the defendant continued to drive alongside Mr Doody's bike which the victim found "intimidating".
Mr Bennett said the victim slapped Godfrey's bonnet and they exchanged insults with one another. Godfrey said: "Don't touch my f****** car", to which Mr Doody replied: "You're too f****** close, move away, move the f*** away". He was also heard calling Godfrey a "f****** c***" and a "fat f***".
Footage was played of Godfrey pulling to the right before swinging left into Mr Doody and sending him over his handlebars and over a wall. Mr Bennett said: "He was clearly in pain". Godfrey drove off but returned to the scene of the collision and spoke to witnesses, claiming the victim had attacked him first but was told by a bystander "he hit your vehicle, he didn't hit you".
The police were called and Godfrey appeared agitated, confused and breathless. He told police he drove away because he was "physically unwell" and wanted to avoid a confrontation between him and Mr Doody.
As a result of the assault, Mr Doody suffered tenderness to his left collarbone and left shoulder joint, as well as swelling and reduced movement. The defendant, of Traherne Drive, Michaelston-super-Ely, was interviewed and denied assaulting the victim but he later pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and dangerous driving. The court heard he had previous convictions for wounding, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and failure to surrender.
In mitigation, Kevin Seal said his client had acted "out of character". He added: "This was a moment of madness." The defence barrister said it was the "last thing Mr Godfrey wished" was to cause injury to Mr Doody. He said the "mainstay" of his life had been his job as a taxi driver but as a result of this incident he has lost his job.
Sentencing, Recorder Carl Harrison said: "This was a deliberate moved to knock a cyclist of his bike after he hit you on the bonnet.... You did this out of anger, you lost your temper. You were in a car, he was a cyclist, you have a responsibility to other road users, particularly those more vulnerable than you."
Godfrey was sentenced to eight months imprisonment suspended for two years. He was also ordered to carry out a 10 day rehabilitation activity requirement and 120 hours of unpaid work. The defendant was also disqualified from driving for two years.
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