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Driver jailed for road rage
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Scotsman, November 15, 2007
By Dave Finlay
A driver has been jailed for nine months after deliberately knocking a
cyclist from his bike in a road rage attack.
Tahir Chaudhry, 34, swerved his van at the bike after clashing with the
cycle courier at traffic lights. The father-of-two then drove off after
the collision leaving the concussed victim behind.
Passers-by went to the aid of courier Greig Walker, 34, and also noted
the registration number of Chaudhry's vehicle.
Mr Walker had five stitches put in wounds and suffered multiple cuts
and bruises in the incident.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard yesterday that it was fortunate he
was wearing a helmet when he was knocked to the ground.
Lord McEwan told Chaudhry that he took into account his good background
and references provided on his behalf.
But the judge said: "Nonetheless, I think in the public interest to
suppress road rage I have to pronounce a custodial sentence."
"I have to take a very serious view of this matter which is a very bad
example of road rage."
Lord McEwan also banned Chaudhry, of Colinton Road, Edinburgh, from
driving for five years and ordered him to resit a driving test.
Chaudhry, the manager of a family-run store business, was originally
charged with attempting to murder Mr Walker.
But the Crown accepted his guilty plea to an alternative charge of
driving dangerously and causing a collision which left the victim
unconscious and severely injured. The offence carries a maximum penalty
of two years imprisonment.
The court heard that cycle delivery courier Mr Walker received a job on
November 3 last year which took him from the West End of the Capital to
the Wester Hailes area. Chaudhry's van undertook him at a junction and
went across his path. Mr Walker shouted at the driver as he felt that
he had been cut up.
The van was ahead of him on Wester Hailes Road but did an emergency
stop and reversed towards him. As the van picked up speed the cyclist
decided to take evasive action and mounted a verge. He continued on his
way and came back onto the road ahead of the van. But as he cycled on
he could hear the van picking up speed. The court heard witnesses saw
the van swerve deliberately towards the bike, clipping it and throwing
the victim to the ground.
Defence counsel Sarah Livingstone urged the judge not to jail Chaudhry
who was assessed as being a very low risk of re-offending.
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