• Home
• |
• News
• |
• Sport
• |
• Comment
• |
• Entertainment
• |
• Property News

• Property
• |
• Jobs
• |
• Motors
• |
• Family Notices
• |
• Free Ads
• |
• Archive Search
• |
• Local Directory
• |
• Business Bid

• Horoscopes
• Competitions
• |
• TV Guide
• |
• Charities
• |
• Local Links
• |
• Motoring
• |
• About Solihull
• |
• About Us
• |
• Contact

Road rage maniac jailed

A ROAD rage maniac from Earlswood who repeatedly hit a motorist over the head with an iron bar has been jailed - despite a plea for leniency from his victim.
Forgiving Christopher Budden, whose head was pouring with blood after the bludgeoning, said his attacker Asa Wilson needs help to cope with his inner rage rather than punishment.
But Mr Budden's plea for leniency for the man who left him with head and facial injuries and a badly swollen hand was ignored by Judge William Hart at Gloucester Crown Court.
Jailing Wilson, 26, for 9 months, Judge Hart said "I take into account Mr Budden's views.
"But there has to be a prison sentence.
"Any member of the public seeing what you did would instantly say this is the sort of conduct which needs an immediate prison sentence to mark it."
Wilson of Glenvale Valley Road, Earlswood, Solihull, pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Budden, of Cheltenham, on December 8, 2008, causing him actual bodily harm.
He also admitted causing £323 worth of damage to Mr Budden's VW Golf car by hitting it with the metal bar during the terrifying incident.
Julian Kesner, prosecuting, said it happened on the A4136 near Cheltenham after Mr Budden had tried to overtake Wilson's white van.
Wilson accelerated from 40 to 60mph to prevent him and Mr Budden had to drop back, said Mr Kesner.
Shortly afterwards Mr Budden was able to overtake and then 'unwisely slowed down to about 20mph to make a point before pressing on with his journey.'
A little further on Mr Budden had to stop at red traffic lights and Wilson then got out of his van and started hitting the VW with a metal bar, Mr Kesner said.
"Mr Budden, concerned for his vehicle, got out. On doing so he had blows rained down on him with the bar.
"He describes two to three blows after the first blow on his head. They all went down onto the top of his head."
Mr Kesner said Mr Budden was able to get into his car and drive away.
He stopped at a nearby petrol station and got the cashier to take a photo of his bleeding head with his mobile phone.
Mr Kesner told the court that despite his shocking ordeal and painful injuries Mr Budden had made a victim impact statement asking the judge not to imprison him.
In his statement Mr Budden said he believed Wilson must have been suffering from a displaced inner anger with himself.
"He is probably a better person than he thinks of himself as being," stated Mr Budden. "I hope this person does not go to prison."
Mohammed Latiffe, defending, said Wilson is of good character apart from a drink drive conviction.
After the hearing Mr Budden, 56, a therapist said: "I regret that he has been sent to prison. It has struck me over the months since it happened that he must be a very angry person needing help and it would be better for him and society if he learnt how to deal with that.
"I don't think prison will necessarily change things."

• | More
• «Back
• «Home
• Contact the Editor about this story

• 

  The image Christopher Budden had taken of his head after road rage attack by Asa Wilson - pic from Glos News Service