A blue badge driver who chased another motorist, spat in his face and mooned at him at traffic lights has been sentenced after the victim parked in a disabled bay.
Francis McGrath, 59, threatened to kill Stuart Reeve, kicked and punched his Fiat Scudo van and drove directly at the vehicle after seeing it parked in the disabled space outside a chemist in Runcorn, Cheshire.
Incident at Runcorn pharmacy
The incident happened on August 15 last year when Mr Reeve, 47, and his partner Cathy Warburton had gone to Murdishaw pharmacy on Gorsewood Road. McGrath, who holds a blue badge due to COPD, emphysema, DVT and back ache, pulled over in his MG SUV as Mr Reeve was picking up a prescription.
He remonstrated with Ms Warburton, who was in the passenger seat, before turning on Mr Reeve when he emerged from the shop and advised McGrath to ''give his head a good wobble.'' McGrath challenged Mr Reeve to a fight, vandalised the van and called two friends to ''circle'' it.
Court details and sentence
At Warrington Magistrates' Court, McGrath was convicted of threatening behaviour, assault, criminal damage and careless driving. He admitted outraging public decency and failing to provide a specimen of breath. He was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months, and banned from driving for 30 months.
Prosecuting, Miss Marta Pawlowska said McGrath approached Ms Warburton in an aggressive manner and his behaviour escalated significantly when Mr Reeve intervened. She said he spat at Mr Reeve at traffic lights, exposed himself by pulling down his trousers, and then drove directly at the complainants' vehicle before swerving away at the last moment.
The couple were quoted £1,920 to repair dents in the van and later installed CCTV at their home. McGrath was ordered to pay £500 compensation to Mr Reeve and £1,000 for the damage, complete 20 days of rehabilitation activity and was banned from contacting the victims for 18 months under a restraining order.
