A cyclist infamous for a previous road rage outburst has been sent to prison after launching a shocking verbal attack on a mother with a newborn baby on a Dorset beach promenade.
From Tesco Car Park to Beach Promenade
Peter Abbott, 62, was already serving a suspended prison sentence for an August 2023 incident in a Tesco car park when he committed the new offence. In that earlier case, he was filmed banging on a woman's car windscreen and screaming abuse, including calling her a "f…ing tart", after she beeped at him. He was sentenced in May 2024 to a suspended term and ordered to take an anger management course.
However, on December 3, 2024, while banned from driving, Abbott was cycling along the promenade at Alum Chine beach in Bournemouth. The court heard he cycled into a woman's dog, which was off its lead, prompting a confrontation.
A Terrifying Outburst of 'Pure Rage'
Abbott, clad in lycra, got off his bike and began a foul-mouthed tirade against the woman, who was out with her child and pet. His aggression then turned to passersby who attempted to intervene. The incident was captured on mobile phone footage.
In one clip, Abbott can be heard screaming: "Shut the f*** up or I’ll kick you up the arse". He challenged another man to a fight, calling him a "weed". The victim later told police she was "terrified" and described Abbott's state as "pure rage", saying he was not forming coherent sentences.
Prosecutor Laura Lohk stated: "The defendant was cycling behind her before going straight into the victim's dog. He then got off his bike and started shouting and swearing at the victim initially and then started shouting at everyone around."
Breach Leads to Custody
Abbott, a self-employed translator from Bournemouth, pleaded guilty to using threatening or abusive words or behaviour to cause fear, distress or alarm. While this offence alone could not result in jail time, it put him in breach of his suspended sentence for the Tesco car park rage.
His defence lawyer, Katherine Toth, argued Abbott had completed his anger management course and had been offence-free for over a year since the beach incident. She claimed the dog had run in front of his bike and said he felt "intimidated" by other members of the public, leading to his swearing.
However, District Judge Orla Austin at Poole Magistrates' Court took a firm stance. She said: "This is another episode of rage taken out on the public. I'd like to know why he feels entitled to tell members of the public to shut the f*** up and shout and enrage at them." She emphasised that Abbott cannot go around getting angry with the public.
Rejecting the defence's plea to not activate the suspended sentence, Judge Austin sentenced Abbott to six weeks in prison. He was also ordered to pay £85 in prosecution costs.
