A wanted motorist who was found guilty of assaulting a cyclist in a road rage attack, after the rider called out his licence plate following a close pass at a central reservation, has “got away with it”, according to his victim – because the driver simply failed to turn up to court.
Essex Police has confirmed that an arrest warrant remains in place for 36-year-old Adam Fry, who pleaded guilty to careless driving, attempted criminal damage, and a public order offence in relation to the road rage incident on 23 May 2024.
Fry, who told officers during a police interview that he didn’t “need to see the video” of the incident because he’d “done nothing wrong”, was then found guilty of assault by beating on 11 August 2025, a verdict delivered in his absence after he failed to turn up to court.
Almost a year later, Fry is yet to be sentenced, with police currently unable to locate him, his victim noting that the motorist is likely to be still “driving on the roads with major anger issues”.
Cyclist Tony Envoldsen-Harris was cycling on Stifford Clays Road in Grays, Essex, on 11 December 2023, as part of his usual lunchtime ride, when he was close passed by a motorist at a pinch point in the road caused by a central reservation.
“The lane here is quite wide but still not wide enough for a driver to overtake safely through a pinch point, but that’s exactly what a driver did,” Tony tells road.cc.
As the driver passes him, Tony shouts: “Whoa, what are you doing?” The motorist, Fry, then slows down, travelling alongside the cyclist, and says: “What do you mean what am I doing? Get out of the middle of the road you prick”.
As Fry drives on, Tony stops and calls out the car’s licence plate, a common tactic used by camera cyclists to ensure every detail is available for police investigating the incident.
“The driver must have heard me doing this, as next thing I know they have slammed on their brakes, stopped their vehicle and jumped out and walked towards me,” Tony says.
In the video of the incident, Fry can be seen moving towards the cyclist, while asking: “What the f*** did you say, what did you say?”
He then can be seen kicking out at the cyclist, hitting him in the leg and casing him to wobble. The motorist continues to shout at the rider, calling him a “f***ing prick” and telling him to “f*** off, you nonce”.
Tony responds by telling the motorist, “congratulations, it’s all on camera”, prompting another sweary retort from Fry before he drives off.
“As I was steadying myself another driver stopped to check if I was OK after witnessing some of it,” Tony continues. “And I headed home, still feeling quite shaken by the event it took a while for me to calm down and get myself together.
“I reported the incident to Essex Police, initially through the Extra Eyes service, for the driving, but after mentioning the incident on social media, people told me I should report it for the assault as well, which I then did, and I’m very glad I did.”
Around a week later, Essex Police informed Tony that they required a formal statement and for him to upload his footage of the incident, with one officer praising him for calling out the driver’s licence plate number on camera.
In early 2024, the case was passed to the local policing team for investigation, who told Tony that the driver had been called in for an interview and that they had “reinstated” the driving offence committed in the clips (“implying the roads team weren’t going to take action,” Tony notes).
In the interview, according to an officer who relayed the details to Tony, the driver “came in with an attitude”, claiming that he “didn’t need to see the video” because he’d done “nothing wrong”, while telling the police that “real men sort it out”.
“From what the officer said he was very adversarial, showing no signs of remorse for his actions,” Tony tells road.cc.
Following the interview, Fry was charged with four offences: causing intentional harassment, alarm, or distress; driving without consideration for other road users; causing criminal damage; and assault by beating.
He pleaded guilty to the first three counts but contested the assault charge, with a court date eventually set for 11 August 2025, at Basildon Magistrates Court.
“I arrive in plenty of time and I’m shown to the witness/victim room, and after a short wait I’m taken to the court room,” Tony says.
“On the way to the room I’m told the defendant has not arrived for the hearing, but that the hearing will go ahead in his absence, with the defence barrister only there to take notes as there’s no one to defend.
“Once in the court room the magistrates start proceedings, I’m shown to the stand, sworn in, and go through my statement, the prosecutor plays the video, and everything runs smoothly. I can see the magistrates don’t appear impressed with the driving or altercation afterwards.
“They ask a couple of questions before retiring to consider the evidence and come to a decision. The wait isn’t long as they soon reappear, and state they find the defendant guilty, and due to his absence from court they will issue a warrant for his arrest. So far, so good.”
But that’s when, as Tony notes, things grind to a halt.
“Months go by and I hear nothing, I reach out to the courts teams and ask for an update. I’m told he hasn’t been found yet and that they will update me when he is located,” the cyclist says.
“This goes on and on, with me chasing, and getting the same response from the courts team. In May 2026 I contacted them once again asking for an update, and to be told what they are doing to try and locate the driver.
“The courts team replied saying they don’t have access to those details, but that I can try reaching out to the police directly, which I did on 18 May 2026 and again on 16 June 2026. No replies to either. I then contact the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex by email, but essentially get fobbed off.
“So, at this point the driver has got away with it. Despite pleading/being found guilty of four offences he’s never been sentenced, still driving on the roads with major anger issues, and the police don’t seem able to locate him.”
At the end of June, Essex Police’s witness care team contacted Tony, reassuring him that the warrant remains in place until Fry is found, “even if it takes years”.
“The case remains open at this time,” the police’s letter reads. “The defendant failed to appear at court and enquiries are on-going to ascertain their location. A warrant has been issued for their arrest with our warrants officer making the enquiries to ascertain their current location.
“The suspect has been circulated as wanted, meaning if they are stopped by Police and checks made they will be apprehended. Similar checks are routinely made at airports/other ports both exiting and entering the UK, meaning they may be apprehended here too.
“Please be assured this has not been forgotten, and whilst there are currently difficulties locating the suspect, our enquiries will continue until such time they are arrested and taken before the courts.”
In a statement provided to road.cc, a spokesperson for Essex Police said: “A warrant remains in place for the arrest of 36-year-old Adam Fry.
“Fry pleaded guilty to careless driving, attempted criminal damage and a public order offence on 23 May 2024, and was found guilty in his absence of assault by beating on 11 August 2025.
“Our officers are continuing to search for Fry and ensure he appears before court for sentencing.”
