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Bristol driver knocked cyclist from bike then chased him with metal bar

Incident was watched by two police officers in following vehicle

A court has heard how a Bristol driver who knocked a cyclist from his bike chased after him brandishing a metal bar – with the entire episode witnessed by police officers in a vehicle behind.

Mark Bray, aged 37, initially told police he had swerved to avoid hitting a cat but later claimed that the cyclist had pulled out in front of him, reports the Bristol Evening Post.

He added that he had not realised he had driven into the bike, but admitted having chased the cyclist with a metal bar in his hand.

Bray pleaded guilty at Bristol Crown Court to careless driving and possession of an offensive weapon in relation to the incident which took place in Lower Knowle in September 2015.

He had been spotted veering off the road by police constables Andrew Simpson and Robert Brown, who subsequently realised he had struck the cyclist, who ran off and subsequently declined to assist police, according to Alistair Haggerty, prosecuting.

Robert Morgan-Jones, defending Bray, said that the motorist had seen the cyclist approaching from the left but believed he would stop. When he didn’t, Bray panicked and veered onto the pavement.

He added that his client acknowledged his driving had been careless and that he should not have chased after the cyclist.

Bray was given a four-month jail sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered to attend a thinking skills course.

He was also fined £200 and ordered to pay £200 towards the prosecution’s costs, and had his driving licence endorsed with six penalty points.

Recorder James Townsend told him: "Road rage is a menace and can lead to people becoming involved in quite significant violence.

"You're a man who has a record which suggests you have a problem with your anger and a tendency to resort to violence.

"But you pleaded guilty at the earliest possible opportunity. You are in employment and you have been honest with your employer," he added.

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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15 comments

Avatar
Stumps | 8 years ago
3 likes

If he is on licence then they can recall him to serve the remainder of his sentence. If they haven't then i would like to know why ????????????

Avatar
stefv | 8 years ago
1 like

I thought that if you were on a life sentence release license, then you had to be on best behaviour, such that you can be recalled to prison without even being convicted of another crime? 

Maybe this judgement is for this crime and the parole board/another judge will make a decision on the license?

Interested to hear some insight from people in the know.

Cheers!

Avatar
brooksby | 8 years ago
0 likes

I wonder how far in front of him the cyclist pulled out (a metre, ten metres, a hundred metres, just "at all").   And, I wonder whether these two gentlemen had met before? Even the most road-raging moton is unlikely to try to run someone off the road then chase them wielding a metal bar... IMO. (Unless they own a small London restaurant...).

Avatar
The Rake | 8 years ago
2 likes

Is there really such a thing as a "thinking skills" course?

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brooksby replied to The Rake | 8 years ago
1 like

The Rake wrote:

Is there really such a thing as a "thinking skills" course?

I think so...  3

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emishi55 | 8 years ago
2 likes

Bray was given a four-month jail sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered to attend a thinking skills course.

 

And for those who haven't checked the link posted above

 

A father of three will spend at least seven years in jail after turning his ex-lover into a human fireball and leaving her with a life “full of pain and suffering”.

Mark Bray smirked and belched as he was sentenced to life at Oxford Crown Court today for trying to kill Coral Newman.

The judge said it had only been “by the grace of God” Ms Newman did not die from the injuries which have left her permanently scarred.

The court heard that Bray, of Parsons Mead, Abingdon, downed 10 cans of lager and snorted two lines of cocaine before storming to Ms Newman’s home in Draymans Walk on December 23.

 

I suggest the judge in each case has been a bit lenient with their sentencing.

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Paul J | 8 years ago
2 likes

If it's the same guy who was sentenced to life for attempted murder of his ex, by trying to burn her alive, at age 29, and if his "life" sentence meant a minimum of 7 years, then it seems he's only just out of prison by a year or so. And already he's back in court after trying to run people down and attack them with a metal bar?

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DaveE128 | 8 years ago
4 likes

careless driving??? I suppose it was careless to be carrying a metal bar too, and careless to run down the road in the same direction as the cyclist ran off?!

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Bob's Bikes | 8 years ago
8 likes

The Recorder James Townsend stated

you pleaded guilty at the earliest possible opportunity. REALLY?

Mark Bray, aged 37, initially told police he had swerved to avoid hitting a cat but later claimed that the cyclist had pulled out in front of him.

 

So two lies before being told two police officers witnessed what he did before he admits his guilt

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Housecathst | 8 years ago
1 like

Why did he plead guilty, a jury of fellow motorists wouldn't have convicted. 

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ooldbaker | 8 years ago
9 likes

I would think this might be the man:

http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/4324388.Abingdon_thug_gets_life_for_set/

and

http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/news/8795690.DOMESTIC_ABUSE__My_ex_burned_me_alive/

If so, then the judge has a gift for understatement.

You would think that if the defendent already has a life sentence he would automatically be sent back to prison.

It might explain why the victim didn't want to get involved.

Avatar
EddyBerckx | 8 years ago
15 likes

"You're a man who has a record which suggests you have a problem with your anger and a tendency to resort to violence.

"But you pleaded guilty at the earliest possible opportunity. You are in employment and you have been honest with your employer," he added.

 

the judge is a far bigger cunt than even the motorist...wish this sort of thing would happen to judges families a bit more then we might see some justice

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Kadinkski | 8 years ago
3 likes

I wonder why the cyclist didn't assist the police.

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therevokid replied to Kadinkski | 8 years ago
2 likes

Kadinkski wrote:

I wonder why the cyclist didn't assist the police.

 

lower knowle ... nuff said !!

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EightOhEight replied to therevokid | 8 years ago
0 likes

therevokid wrote:

Kadinkski wrote:

I wonder why the cyclist didn't assist the police.

 

lower knowle ... nuff said !!

 

? Are you confusing 'Lower Knowle', AKA Knowle, with Knowle West? 'Lower Knowle'/Knowle is a 'regenerated'/ethnicly cleansed area now. You'll struggle to find a Bristolian there any more but it does now have a 'street market' and half a dozen VW Transporters in every street. 

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