A driver deliberately mounted a pavement and drove at two women after a "momentary loss of temper", a court has heard. Motorist Robin Taylor had had a disagreement over the phone with one of the pedestrians earlier that day before spotting her walking along a residential street with a friend and driving at her.
As the defendant drove away from the scene he "stuck two fingers up" to a female witness, something which a judge said was "ill-advised" as the witness made a note of his number plate and reported it to police.
Incident Details
Abul Hussain, prosecuting, told the court that on August 25 last year the defendant and "an associate" by the name of Deborah Saunders spoke on the phone. He said later that day Taylor was driving through the Townhill area of Swansea when he saw Miss Saunders walking on Elphin Road with a friend of hers, Jessica Bevan, and stopped to speak to her.
The court heard the defendant then got back into his car and manoeuvred the vehicle onto the pavement before accelerating towards the two women causing them to go to the floor. Taylor then reversed off the pavement and drove away.
The incident was witnessed by a passing motorist who was "shocked" at what she saw and who went to check on the two women. The prosecutor said as Taylor drove away he "stuck two fingers up" to the witness.
Court Proceedings
A judge at Swansea Crown Court told the 45-year-old defendant that what he had done had been "plainly and obviously dangerous", and he said the driver had been reckless as to whether injury was caused. Taylor, of Elwy Gardens, Townhill, Swansea, had previously pleaded guilty on the day of trial to dangerous driving when he appeared in the dock for sentencing.
The plea was entered on the basis of a "momentary loss of temper" he drove towards the women, and that while he didn't make contact with them he accepted his behaviour caused them to fall backwards. The defendant has six previous convictions for 17 offences - primarily dishonesty and shoplifting matters - but including driving without due care and attention from 2008. His last conviction is for possession of class A drugs from 2010.
Defence and Sentencing
Jon Tarrant, for Taylor, said a compromise had been reached on the day of trial following discussions between parties. He said the Townhill incident had been a "somewhat isolated and impulsive matter" and said the addictions which had been plaguing the defendant had now been resolved. The barrister invited the court to find there was a "more than realistic prospect of rehabilitation".
Recorder Simon Hughes said it was clear there had been "some sort of disagreement" between the defendant and Miss Saunders prior to the incident. He described Taylor's actions in driving at the women as "plainly and obviously dangerous", and said he had been reckless as to whether injury was caused. The recorder noted Taylor had then given a witness "two fingers" before driving off, "something which was ill-advised as she took your number and reported it".
With a 10 per cent discount for his guilty plea Taylor was sentenced to 10 months in prison suspended for two years, and was ordered to complete a rehabilitation course. The defendant was also disqualified from driving for 12 months and must pass an extended test before he can get a licence.
