A van driver who asked a cyclist "do you know who I am?" before running him over has been jailed for six years. John Christie, 37, of Newnham Drive, Ellesmere Port, used his van as a weapon to knock the man off his bike before assaulting him as he lay in the road.
On Thursday, March 15, 2024, at 1.12pm, police received reports of a man intentionally driving his van into someone on Marlborough Road in Ellesmere Port before then assaulting them. When Cheshire Police officers arrived, they found the victim and took him to hospital where he underwent 10 hours of surgery after suffering a broken hip, leg and ankle.
Attack details
The victim told police he was riding his bike when a van being driven by Christie cut the corner at the junction of Sherbourne Road and Lancaster Gardens. As a result of the driving, the van clipped the victim's bike handle. Christie then pulled alongside the cyclist and shouted: "Do you know who I am, do you know what I'll do to you?"
Christie continued to follow the victim and hit the back wheel of his bike, causing him to fall off the bike and go underneath the van. After being run over, the victim dragged himself from under the van and out of the road. Christie stopped the van and began assaulting him, telling him not to say anything to anyone about the incident before driving away from the scene.
Investigation and sentencing
The van was later found at Cheshire Oaks retail park where it was seized by police. Officers found the van to be insured by Christie, with his DNA on the steering wheel. Christie was arrested two days later and answered no comment to all questions put to him. He was eventually charged and found guilty of section 18 assault and dangerous driving.
He appeared in Chester Crown Court on Wednesday, October 21, where he was sentenced to six years in prison. He was also banned from driving for five years and must pass an extended driving test.
Police statement
DC Max Jones said: "Christie purposefully used his vehicle as a weapon which has caused lasting injuries to the victim in this case. Even two years on, he cannot walk unless aided by crutches or a mobility scooter.
"Despite causing such horrific injuries, Christie then physically assaulted the victim, telling him not to tell anyone about what he had done. But thanks to the hard work of our officers, Christie's van was traced and linked to him, leading to his arrest."
DC Jones added: "This has been a lengthy court process, and we hope the conclusion of this today will help to bring the victim some closure over this ordeal."
