Twitter users have expressed their astonishment at the failure of Essex Police to bring charges against a motorist filmed knocking a cyclist off his bike then getting out of his car and assaulting the rider.
The incident took place on Saturday 14 October in Newcomen Way, Colchester as cyclist Wolf Simpson made his way to a local bike shop.
A tweet of some of the footage posted by Evo Lucas has been retweeted hundreds of times and attracted hundreds of comments,
I’m simply shocked that @EssexPoliceUK can ignore the careless driving, the dangerous driving AND the assault of @2_Wheeled_Wolf It is simply baffling. @roadcc pic.twitter.com/8rWMChW8jj
— Evo Lucas (@veloevol) December 16, 2017
The driver appears to speed up as he approaches the cyclist, despite a lorry parked on the right restricting the available width of the road.
He passes the rider very closely, then turns around and uses his vehicle to knock the cyclist from his bike, then exits his vehicle and physically attacks him.
Mr Simpson posted the full video to YouTube, and in a text commentary to it says that afterwards, “I called 999 for the attempt on my life and the assault.”
“At first the person on the phone [was] shocked and more concerned of any injuries to me, which thankfully [there] weren’t any to worry about.
“The helmet took all the blows from the driver’s fists and I got minor bruising on hip after being hit with the car.
But he said: “Despite the video footage, Essex Police decided to take no further action on the driver for his dangerous driving due to ‘insufficient evidence’.”
“Despite the footage clearly showing the driver deliberately getting out of his car and assault[ing] me with attempt to do harm, no charges given as the helmet took all the blows and no injuries to me despite the driver admitting he did assault me.”
He said that “All they [police] did do is get him to pay for damages [to the bike] through ‘community resolution’.”
He added: “I had no say in this at all, it was done and dusted by the time I received the letter from Essex Police and told where to collect the money.”
68 thoughts on “Video: No charges against driver filmed knocking cyclist from bike and assaulting him”
Just repeating my comment
Just repeating my comment from the thread I first saw this on – as it is more appropriate here.
This is a shocking assault and terrible driving. I would hope that the police would have done more.
I would have thought that Wolf has a couple more courses of action. It seems that the driver has admitted liability (according to the video), paying for damage to bike.
My understanding is that if Wolf were to sue in small claims for the assult (pain and suffering?) then the driver would not have a defence – having admitted that he did it and there being video evidence. The burden of proof in a civill claim is much lower than a criminal claim and he admitted liability at a criminal level. I do not know whether the police action would limit any claim, but given that it was without your friend’s authority I would have though that it would not – a solicitor would know. Any solicitor here know?
The driver seems to be wearing a martial arts club/organisation logo – it’s a ying yang symbol with an image of a man superimposed, though I could not make out the writing. Also with the way he was bouncing around in a prepared state I would reckon karate (shotakan?), tai kwon do or kick boxing. Martial arts bodies take a dim view of one of their members attacking someone who is not a threat. I would fully expect to have that licence taken away.
Hug wrote:
Reddit detectives identified it as a certain club of wing chun kung fu
I love a bit of investigation
I love a bit of investigation! – the logo appears to be this – http://www.wingchunuk.co.uk/
But absolutely amazed by this and lack oh help by the police.
I doesn’t matter where the
I doesn’t matter where the cyclist was (there wasn’t enough room on the first pass), I doesn’t matter how the cyclist reacted to this. The driver does not, DOES FUCKING NOT, have the right to take the law into their own hands.
I would be asking Essex plod to justify this through freedom of information and taking them to task bad style.
don simon wrote:
Hmm, I’d say there is plenty of room on the first pass (at 2:36 in the video). Wolf (the cyclist) is quite far to the left, perhaps not quite secondary position but perhaps 1.5 m from the kerb, definitely nowhere near the centre. The driver moves from their side of the road well into the middle/opposite site, also going quite fast and sounding the horn. Sure, they have to drive around the lorry that’s parked on their side a bit behind Wolf, but he could easily do that after passing Wolf safely.
It’s hard to see this not as deliberate and totally unprovoked.
I do agree of course with your point that even when a cyclist does something wrong there’s never a justification to hit them as a punishment.
Makes you wonder what the
Makes you wonder what the hell the police actually do these days because they are certainly are not catching criminals or behaviour like this. Too much bother and cost. We should all ask for a deduction in our taxes. Cant remember the last time I saw a police car on the roads near us…
Thanks littletel and pjm60.
Thanks littletel and pjm60.
I followed the link and had a little look at the Links page. Perhaps the driver should get some more lessons from the driving school or perhaps use the taxi company. A couple of sessions with the life coach may help his anger problem.
I cannot see that Master Frank Roach or Master Mark Clark will be too happy with the driver going around wearing clothes with their logo on attacking people. Not a good advert and a shame as most serious martial artists I’ve known are fairly calm people.
Dislike!
Dislike!
Private prosecution time.
Private prosecution time.
A bit like Hammer Time but less effective.
“Insufficient evidence”?
“Insufficient evidence”?
You have to wonder what would be considered sufficient, do you need a signed affidavit from the perp to get a conviction these days.
The only real question here
The only real question here is: who does the driver know?
My guess is that he is the son of a senior police person, or perhaps the son of the grand master of the local masonic lodge. This is a clear case of assault, with malice aforethought, quite deliberate and not done in a moment of irrational anger. The only way the police could possibly justify not prosecuting is either total and utter incompetence or some form of nepotism.
Find out the driver’s name and who his relatives are and blast it all over the media and embarrass the police until they take some action. If someone dies as a result of this driver being free to carry on his attacks, I hope the police who took these disgraceful decisions will be ashamed enough to resign and find a job they are more competent to do, like stacking shelves. Certainly nothing to do with protecting the public.
This stinks, expose it.
The more publicity this gets,
The more publicity this gets, the better IMO.
I’ve retweeted a few versions. This vigilante bigot needs some time without his licence (since behind bars just isn’t going to happen). Some medication wouldn’t go amiss either, to deal with his uncontrollable rage.
Unfortunately some drivers
Unfortunately some drivers are now emboldened by the increasing number of anti-cyclist rants in the popular media.
It makes them think that any cyclist who does not show due deference and immediately remove themselves from the road in the presence of a motorist can legitimately be attacked, because popular opinion is on their side.
It’s similar to the increase in anti-immigrant attacks in the wake of the Brexit vote, but whereas the perpetrators of racist attacks will generally be prosecuted if caught, attacks on cyclists appear to be seen by the police as entirely justifiable.
I love the way the driver
I love the way the driver thinks, “if I tell the van driver he was a little wide, then it’s ok to run him over…”
Even when wolf gets his phone out you can see the car is turned onwards towards the kerb (and therefore rider). This isn’t assault it is actually attempted murder, how do you argue that this isn’t premeditated and/or using a deadly weapon!
A very similar incident
A very similar incident occurred to me in Nottingham and I had to refer it to the police professional investigation department. No response after 18 days. Terrible service.
“Enhance image…”
“Enhance image…”
Ah, that’ll be the European Traditional Wing Chun Association then…
Let the economic boycott of
Let the economic boycott of cycle hating Tory Britain begin!
Ramuz wrote:
Not your best effort. Needs more Brexit and a touch of Corbyn.
Absolutely shocking. Why do
Absolutely shocking. Why do some people think that they have the right to play with someone else`s life. The driver was wrong on the initial pass as the cyclist had right of way due to the parked car on the other side of the road. This is clearly assault using a vehicle as a weapon & how the police can do nothing about it way beyond a joke, they police force are the joke. You`ve got plenty of footage here for a compensation claim, use it against him, that will hit him where it hurts most. Wish there was an eye for an eye law. Here you go here`s my bike, give me your car keys and let me do that to you and see how you like it. I wonder what the responce would be, but alas two wrongs don`t make a right.
Seriously wow!
Seriously wow!
What is the correct course of action to challenge a police constabulary’s decision?
This is ridiculous.
As commented on, this has to be a case of someone knowing someone suitably important.
The video shows you everything, unedited… clearly premeditated action… no accident at all.
OK, the physical assault is not on camera, however the deliberately knocking someone off bit is unarguable.
Would love to learn Essex’s formal explanation of why the video, witness statements etc are not worthy of evidence.
Complaints to Essex police,
Complaints to Essex police, highlighting their ineptitude over this matter might bring a review and subsequent prosecution
“The helmet took all the
“The helmet took all the blows from the driver’s fists and I got minor bruising on hip after being hit with the car.”
“Despite the footage clearly showing the driver deliberately getting out of his car and assault[ing] me with attempt to do harm, no charges given as the helmet took all the blows and no injuries to me despite the driver admitting he did assault me.”
There you go. Conclusive proof that helmets DO work and should be worn!
In all seriousness though; it is quite baffling that no further action is being taken. As folk who aren’t directly involved can we open a complaint with the force in question?
Rapha Nadal wrote:
Ha ha ! Au contraire. The fact that the fat cunt can’t punch through a flimsy plastic hat is simply evidence that he is a shit martial artist. Not a martial artist at all, in fact. No sifu worth his salt would allow a twat like that in his club.
Eton Rifle wrote:
“The helmet took all the blows from the driver’s fists and I got minor bruising on hip after being hit with the car.”
“Despite the footage clearly showing the driver deliberately getting out of his car and assault[ing] me with attempt to do harm, no charges given as the helmet took all the blows and no injuries to me despite the driver admitting he did assault me.”
There you go. Conclusive proof that helmets DO work and should be worn!
In all seriousness though; it is quite baffling that no further action is being taken. As folk who aren’t directly involved can we open a complaint with the force in question?
— Eton Rifle Ha ha ! Au contraire. The fact that the fat cunt can’t punch through a flimsy plastic hat is simply evidence that he is a shit martial artist. Not a martial artist at all, in fact. No sifu worth his salt would allow a twat like that in his club.— Rapha Nadal
Ha ha ha!! Well, you’ve got me there! HI-YA!
Eton Rifle wrote:
Or that helmets are great, wonder if there’s anywhere we could debates such an issue!
I’d be contacting CyclingUK
I’d be contacting CyclingUK legal team and asking them to file a prosecution against the driver
The problem with reporting
The problem with reporting the crime is that a civilian member of staff took the report and gave the advice. A constable or sergeant would be a better bet but they don’t answer the phone. Complain to the DCC and write to the station where the report was made for a better response. Posting to You Tube has stymied any chance of it going to trial though as the evidence has predjudiced the right to a fair trial.
Hamster wrote:
I really don’t get your last point. Because if it’s true, then it’s a good way to get away with any crime you wish – just video yourself committing it, then post it to youtube and they can’t touch you for it!
Attempted murder. You do not
Attempted murder. You do not use a tonne and a half of metal to assault someone and then follow it up with a further physical attack. The police have failed in their duties.
As for the evidence not being sufficient if that same video had contained footage of an armed robbery the police wouldn’t have hesitated in using the contents so yet again Wolfie is given poor excuses not to act.
I would write immediately to the MP in that area demanding urgent review of the police decision as a matter of public safety. The police could have acted here but have simply chosen not to.
There are also questions around the drivers mental state that should be passed via the police to DVLA. Does he need his licence revoking on medical grounds? The DVLA don’t muck about when it comes to removing some licences where medical fitness is concerned, something they don’t do enough of in my opinion. This guy surely has some very questionnable mental health issues if he considers it acceptable to do this with his car.
Additionally, any of us could also write to the police questioning their decision on the grounds of severe public concern. They are a public body funded by you and I and should be able to account for their decisions when a matter of concern is legitimately raised.
I am going to do this on the grounds that Colchester clearly has disregard for the lives of vulnerable road users and I would like the police to explain just what level of physical assault is acceptable in 2017 by motorists charged with exercising due care to those around them.
If anything like this ever happens to you DO NOT ACCEPT the police immediately fobbing you off. Northamptonshire Police tried to do this to me and I complained. It is now with the Chief Constable after my complaint was accepted and escalated.
Mine was complex as they failed to record the drivers actions properly meaning I am now in a claim with the Motor Insurers Bureau, even though the driver had insurance and was identified. The police are now facing a legal claim for the lost difference between what the insurers would have paid and what the MIB award, 25% of the value of the claim and I was badly hurt, loss of earnings etc. Until the police are forced to respond properly by road victims complaining they’ll keep trying to excuse the violent conduct of some motorists, this is not OK.
I’d be surprised if Wolfie didn’t develop PTSD or some other debilitating anxiety problem as a result of this. It will certainly affect his mental wellbeing. Claim against the drivers insurance, hit them for every penny. Only if the costs of insuring such idiots becomes too prohibitive will we see a change from the insurance industry.
I just watched this with the
I just watched this with the sound off (rather got the impression it might be NSFW).
What is it with people who are so riled up that cyclists are on the road and possibly holding them up, that they can go waaay out of their way to explain this and take out their frustrations on the cyclist? I mean: the cyclist was bl00dy miles away by the time this twunt caught up with them?!?
I think that if the police think there’s no case to answer then they have a serious problem in their triage (is it triage with the police?) system. The idea that the police can just go “hey-ho” and not even pass it through for prosecution is completely unbelievable IMO.
Would love to know what excuse Mr “I Know Kung-Fu, I do” provided for his behaviour.
Threaten to take legal action
Threaten to take legal action against the police if no joy through IPPC. They are bound to protect the wider public at large and by not taking acion here this basically says it’s okay to assault someone with a deadly weapon.
A Lord Justice has already said you can take the police to court over this lack of action that has a wider effect on public safety.
Update:
Update (although we know all this):
https://twitter.com/EssexPoliceUK/status/942787203725447170
Driver admits assault, community resolution agreed to by cyclist (really?), driver pays £200 for damages.
No criminal record. Essex Police saves money and fails to protect the public from this martial arts trained angry monkey.
NPlus1BikelightsNJerseys
That’s a very poor show from Essex plod. It’s a shame as some plod do excellent work and all this is undone by a few lazy twats.
Rider, you shouldn’t have accepted the £200.
Can you imagine the charges
Can you imagine the charges the cyclist would have faced if he had very successfully defended himself from physical attack.
Valbrona wrote:
Attempted murder if done on a fixie.
I appreciate that it is Essex
I appreciate that it is Essex so this possibly qualifies as run of the mill. But sarcasm aside that police force need a very strong kick in the arse! Appalling.
So if the cyclist were to
So if the cyclist were to attack the driver and hospitalise him then the police wouldn’t be able to do anything at all if there were no other witnesses and video evidence then, right?
I had something along similar
I had something along similar lines happen to me in Gateshead.. Driver nearly took me out when passing.. Then tried to ram me after I caught him at the lights, then got out and tried to assault me, which he couldn’t do but did kick my wheel and bent it. All on cctv from a bus and pub adjacent. Northumbria police sent two officers to interview me.. Got the cctv, then did SHITE ALL after I pursued it with them. I didn’t even get my wheel paid for. Too much hassle for them. Any Northumbria officers on here want to look into this and redress the balance against the incompetencies of your colleagues, please pipe up
These situations are why I
These situations are why I have a D-lock in a quick release bracket tucked away under my top tube.
kil0ran wrote:
Just for thinking naughty things about drivers can get you pursued by the police.
http://road.cc/content/news/234057-cyclist-alleged-have-made-stab-threats-driver-who-suspected-she-was-going-run
Better to take the drivers address and wait til they are out on their bike and knock them over with a car, safe in the knowledge that in all probability the authorities are likely to do nothing.
Wolf is now saying on twitter
Wolf is now saying on twitter the police are lying say he accepted the ‘sentence’ of the driver …
Oh @EssexPoliceUK I DID NOT agree to community resolution! I was told that was being done! I WANTED driver to be charged for dangerous driving & Essex Police didn’t want to! Will put screenshot of email on here later to show this! @MartinPorter6 this is what I have to deal with!
Having watched this video
Having watched this video with new levels of disgust and contempt for the police farce I’ve made a short video to sum up what happened for those unable to endure the real life footage. I’m hoping it helps somehow.
https://youtu.be/1RWjXvSmARw
All those at Essex Police should hang their heads in shame. This represent a new level of low that we’ve never come across before. Utterly disgusting.
ironmancole wrote:
Brilliant!
The cynic in me thinks the
The cynic in me thinks the Police’s take away from this incident is going to be based on this comment by the cyclist:
Make helmets mandatory to protect yourselves from assault, because the we (the Police) sure as hell don’t care!
kitsunegari wrote:
I agree with you.
I would suggest next time anyone is hit by a car being used as a weapon or the driver gets out and physically assaults you, then go to A&E asap. Don’t try and down play it just because you have an adrenaline rush and don’t immediately appear injured, up play it as doctors reports specificially specialists ones – A&E doctors are specialists in emergency medicine – are useful in court cases.
If the cyclist would like to
If the cyclist would like to start a crowd funding page for a private prosecution, he can put me down for £50.
burtthebike wrote:
Same here
SingleSpeed wrote:
And me.
Grahamd wrote:
And me, even though I’ve recently been made redundant.
Democratic Cyclists’ Republic
Thankyou guys for the offer, I have already spoken to legal experts in cycling & coz of how Essex Police handled it I have no grounds or likely win a private prosecution. I am however trying to get a complaint against Essex Police through which is proving just as difficult to do as the PCC & Chief Constable refuses to look at the complaint. Even a Cllr wrote to them & got nowhere but will continue to push it as we can’t allow this to happen again to anyone in Essex.
This cannot stop here. This
This cannot stop here. This is blatant assault blatantly ignored by the Police. I really would urge you to get in touch with CyclingUK, Chris Boardman et al. to make this an exemplary case.
Who’s up for it?
Although you don’t have to be
Although you don’t have to be hit for it to be assualt, merely be in fear of physical danger.
The fact of a helmet is irrelevant.
Of course, if I stabbed a policeman and they had a stab vest on which deflected the blade, then that would be ok wouldn’t it?
hirsute wrote:
It was a moment of inattention as I plunged the knife into him your honour, Judge, “fair does, off you trot and make sure you don’t lose your attention span again, by the way you can keep wielding the knife and keep as many at home or on your journeys as you like as we won’t remove it from you despite the fact your ‘accident’ destroyed a family.”
BehindTheBikesheds wrote:
I was so distracted that the knife slipped and plunged into his tyre at 3am the following night, m’lord.
Leviathan wrote:
couple of nails wedged right under the tyre back and front so no matter which direction they go off it’ll go flat as a fucking pancake in seconds, apparently that works so I’ve been told
BehindTheBikesheds wrote:
Criminal damage – most cars have removable valve cores just take all four out and sellotape them to the drivers window – no damage done and no repercussions should the rozzers find you.
I almost sound as if I know this from experience 🙂
%^$£ing hell another one in
%^$£ing hell another one in Colchester
http://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/15782443.WATCH__The_moment_Ford_Mondeo_driver_targets_cyclist/
And the difference between the 2 is ?
Oh, yes, if he had got out and punched him, it would have been ok.
“I actually know the driver
“I actually know the driver of the car involved in this incident and he told me how Wolf Simpson was riding your bicycle in a very erratic manner, and was riding in the middle of the road and a hazard to other road users, when he stopped and confronted the cyclist he was faced with threats of violence which led him to assault the the Wolf, needless to say the Wolf turned into a pussycat and was wimpering on the ground, this so called Wolf man needs to learn some manners and respect, i would also recommend he has a change of career, earns some more money, throws the bike in the hedge and buys himself a car!!
Last Updated: 57 mins ago”
http://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/15781788.Driver_rapped_after_punching_cyclist_in_road_bust_up/?ref=mr&lp=2
hirsute wrote:
don simon wrote:
Other comments on the Gazette site suggest it is his mates posting.
Althought they are too thick to explain why he admitted assault and paid £200.
Did you watch the other video though ?
hirsute wrote:
Other comments on the Gazette site suggest it is his mates posting.
Althought they are too thick to explain why he admitted assault and paid £200.
Did you watch the other video though ?— don simon
Maybe, if I knew which other video you’re referencing.
don simon wrote:
It was a few posts earlier
http://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/15782443.WATCH__The_moment_Ford_Mondeo_driver_targets_cyclist/
(there don’t seem to be post ids in this forum).
hirsute wrote:
It was a few posts earlier
http://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/15782443.WATCH__The_moment_Ford_Mondeo_driver_targets_cyclist/
(there don’t seem to be post ids in this forum).— don simon
Yes, but I don’t understand why you’re re-introducing it to me.
don simon wrote:
Because it occured in the same town and in each case the driver deliberately knocked off the cyclist, yet the outcome for the driver was completely different.
hirsute wrote:
Ah OK! Not connected to what I wrote then.
And yet the video shows the
And yet the video shows the truth & this person & the driver are liars! If they do actually know the driver, it don’t surprise me in the crap they are spouting here. But to be expected from cowards.
This a horrible incident for
This a horrible incident for many reasons, not least that it is completely unacceptable, under any circumstances, to use a car against a bike in a blatant road rage attack.
To then physically assualt the rider after knocking him off the bike (and not checking if he was injured) is nothing less than a criminal act.
The police have not dealt with this matter in an appropriate fashion.
However…..
I was castigated in a previous thread for suggesting that provoking lunatics is often guaranteed to get an advserse reaction, but I will say the same again here.
Being in the right is OK up to a point, but try walking into a pub near closing time, identifying the meanest looking character at the bar and shout at him that he is a wanker, and see what ‘being in the right’ does for you.
The video really falls apart for the car driver at the point that he knocked the cyclist off his bike.
Prior to that, I can see why the driver was a bit upset, and despite the text explanations in the video the cyclist may not be as innocent as he protests.
The first close pass was one of those situations when bike and car have to make a judgement, and share the road. Cyclist was taking a lot of room and clearly wanted to make a point against what he percieved as poor driving. the road was very wide at that point and clearly there was plenty of room for bike and car to pass with plenty of space between them, had the cyclist moved over a metre. Yes, the driver forced his way through and yes he was going too fast but no harm done at that point, really.
My first view of the video was without sound, secondly with (which showed a slightly different perspective), and the abuse shouted (and almost certainly hand gestures given) clearly upset the driver.
The main incident shows cyclist right in the centre of the road a long way short of the intended turn- on a road with no other traffic, and almost certainly designed to impede the agitated driver behind. The driver was fully on the opposite side of the road and wanted to make his points to the cyclist (retaliation for the earlier abuse).
It is completely unacceptable to do so as I said earlier, but when the driver turned in and knocked the cyclist off and stopped, his car hadnt crossed the centre line of the road. What position had the cyclist taken immediately prior to that, and could that have been considered provocative?
Cyclist may have been in the right, but provoking a lunatic and then expressing outrage that he has assaulted you shouldnt be a surprise to anyone.
My point is, in a long winded way, that there are lunatics out there driving when they arent mentally fit to do so. Loss of concentration, blind spots, and carelessness by drivers are all bad enough hazards for cyclists, but a Gopro doesnt provide enough cover to stop a thug objecting violently when called a wanker, as they would react against the law in a similar way in any circumstances and we should not be surprised when they do.
I often wonder whether these close pass videos do more harm than good, by encouraging cyclists thats its OK to shout abuse at other road users, but in fact are just potentially making a bad situation even worse.
Expatpat wrote:
Clearly you have made your own assumptions & paid lil to the text in the video. Actually a lot of assumptions, lets see how you react when someone come at you head on for no reason other than to get you off your bike by driving in the middle of the road & had I been in the middle of the road it would have been a head on collision. Driver had room to pass me as there was nothing to go around as I had already passed the parked vehicles on his side of the road & that incorrect assumption is why I created this video: https://youtu.be/AIJCCVZ8IPI
Then you go on about being in the middle of the road again on the event that led to the collision, but failed to read that I was indicating to turn right to go into the industrial estate & positioning myself to turn right as anyone would. Or do you stick to the kerb on the left to turn right? T
You also failed to work out that he came back to attack me coz he felt I should not be on the road so NOTHING I have done had provoked the driver, he did ALL of this coz he felt I should be cycling on the pavement.
Your point is talking nonsense & assuming what did not happen & having a GoPro which I do not. And clealy you base your opinion of me from this video & not the 100s I have posted on cycling in general where I enjoy it. It was never about being right but about correctly cycling which I did & the driver chose to come after me just coz I was cycling on the road & not the path but then I have seen a lot of stupid comments like this over the past 9 months from those who clearly have no idea.