A jealous husband mowed down a love rival with his SUV after he feared he and his unfaithful wife were rekindling their affair. Former Royal Navy officer Paul Rudd, 58, who has cancer, tracked down Aidan Boakes to a house where the former lovers were meeting up before he drove his Kia Sportage vehicle onto a pavement and hit him.
Attack in Dodleston
Haulier Boakes, 43, who had been stood on a grass verge with Rudd's unnamed wife sustained multiple fractures to his nose, cheek bones and ribs in the ensuing impact - plus a severe laceration to his left kidney. He also suffered suspected concussion and possible brain swelling but has since made a miraculous recovery following hospital treatment.
When quizzed Rudd, a dad of two who earns £85,000 a year as a global corporate trouble shooter, claimed he had driven at Boakes as the victim had gesticulated at him from the roadside. Police later spoke to Boakes about the incident but despite initially giving a statement, he later retracted his complaint for undisclosed reasons.
Court proceedings
At Chester Crown Court, Rudd, who lives in Mold Road in Broughton, Chester, was initially charged with attempted murder but prosecutors accepted his guilty pleas to lesser charges of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and inflicting grievous bodily harm.
He was sentenced to 17 months in prison suspended for 18 months with a requirement that he complete 40 days of rehabilitation activity with the probation service and pay £1,200 costs. He was also banned from driving for two years. He and his wife are said to be patching up their marriage.
Background to the incident
The attack in the village of Dodleston near the Cheshire-Wales border arose out of Boakes previously having an extra marital affair with Mrs Rudd.
The lovers broke off their fling in February this year but prosecutor Oliver King, said: “It understandably created a degree of hostility between the defendant and Mr Boakes and and there is an unhappy background.''
Matters came to head on February 7 when the defendant's wife was out socialising with a friend visiting her from Iceland. It is apparent from communications between the defendant and his wife that the defendant suspected that she was going to be meeting Mr Boakes that day.
“In fact the defendant sent messages earlier that evening referring to the history and the animosity between them saying that he wanted to fight Mr Boakes and making the suggestion that he would run over Mr Boakes over if he if he saw them.
“Knowing that they were in Chester the defendant also went to Chester and found his wife, Mr Boakes and wife's friend were in a pub together.
“There was some interaction between them and the defendant left shortly after. It came to a point when the defendant's wife and Mr Boakes and friend left and the defendant was in his car outside the address where they went to.
“Mr Boakes stood on the pavement and it was at this point the defendant drove towards him, deliberately mounting the pavement and then striking him. The forensic investigator concluded the vehicle was travelling no more than 10 mph prior to him applying his brakes.
“The Crown also accept a gesture was made by Mr Boakes immediately before the defendant mounted the pavement. There were independent witnesses, but it was the defendant to called the ambulance.''
Mr Boakes was taken to hospital but fortunately, none of his injuries were deemed to be life-threatening and no particularly disabilities have resulted so he has made a recovery. There is no victim personal statement as Mr Boakes did not want to take things take things further. He makes it clear that he was under no pressure by anyone else to retract his complaint.
Defence and sentencing
In a basis of pleas accepted by prosecutors, Rudd claimed Boakes who lives in Rossett near Wrexham, North Wales had been ''swaying'' on the grass and put his arm up ''as if to halt his car.''
He admitted: ''In a moment of madness, I mounted the kerb in the car and struck him. I accept it was dangerous but did not intend to cause serious harm - I had applied the brakes the car was travelling at low speed and I immediately called for for an ambulance.'''
In mitigation defence counsel Owen Edwards KC who said: “In the Navy he was in charge of lots of others and in civilian life has been regularly put in charge of lives of hundreds of people.
His role involving going to companies to effectively seeking to transform them, sometimes taking control of large companies. References describe him as calm, professional, considered, trusted, loyal, coolheaded, time after time.
“He always goes above and beyond what is required.”
Mr Edwards added: “He is genuinely deeply remorseful this has happened and there is embarrassment about the background for all involved. But he knows how serous this is. You are dealing with a contrite man.”
In sentencing Rudd, Judge Steven Everett told him: “You involved yourself in what you yourself described as a moment of madness.
This moment of madness was at a time you were suffering from cancer and indeed still are and in this moment of madness you saw Mr Boakes and your wife and then went onto the pavement and struck him.
“This clearly was dangerous driving as there was a risk of serious injury and serious injury was caused. But I keep in mind literally just before you hit him you in fact braked and were driving at a low speed.
“I also take into account the stresses you were under and are still under. I keep in mind that you and your wife are still together and still making efforts to repair and continue your relationship.
You have extremely strong personal mitigation and have led not just a blameless life but you have been positive feature of assistance to the community where you have worked and previously when you were in the forces.”
“All these are important factors that that allow me to reduce the custodial sentence to the bottom of the bracket and I can suspend it.''
