Road-rage driver caught on his own dashcam knocking motorist out
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Amelia Shone-Adams
BBC Wales
Driver's road rage caught on own dashcam
A driver was caught on his own dashcam punching another motorist unconscious in an "extremely aggressive and shocking" case of road rage.
The victim had suddenly stopped his car in Llanrwst in June because he thought something was wrong with it.
Caernarfon Crown Court was shown footage of John Lee exiting his vehicle and shouting "what are you doing?" before punching the victim in front of his wife, children and elderly parents.
Lee, 37, and of Cae Tyddyn, Llanrwst, previously admitted a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for 12 months.
The court heard the victim had pulled over to collect eggs from a store and stopped his vehicle suddenly upon hearing a loud beep, fearing something was wrong with his car.
Prosecution barrister Rabia Tariq said Lee, who was driving behind him, got out of his vehicle then grabbed and shook the man before delivering a punch.
When the victim's wife stepped out of the car, dashcam footage captured Lee verbally remonstrating with her in an aggressive manner.
'Moment of madness'
The force of the blow caused the victim to lose consciousness and left him with a bruised eye socket and grazed eyelid.
In a personal statement, he described the attack as "extremely aggressive and shocking" and said he had suffered from increased forgetfulness ever since.
The ordeal has also had a lasting emotional impact on his wife and family, he added.
Lee's defence team described the assault as a "single, isolated" moment of madness.
The court heard the self-employed carpenter and joiner, who had served in the military before an injury cut his career short, had struggled with his mental health.
It noted he had established a mental health football team to support himself and others in the community and that his only previous conviction was a referral for common assault in 2005.
In mitigation, Richard Edwards said his client had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and "bitterly regrets" his impulsive actions.
At sentencing, Judge Nicola Jones highlighted the gravity of the incident and the fact it unfolded in front of the victim's parents and children.
She also criticised Lee for being" verbally aggressive" toward the victim's wife.
As well as the suspended prison sentence, Lee must undertake 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days and pay £500 compensation and a statutory surcharge.
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