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Road rage driver walks free
Wednesday 20th February 2008, 11:39AM GMT.
A worker from the steel firm Corus, who left a man battered and bloodied in a road rage attack in the Black Country, has been spared jail.
Matthew Smith punched a motorist to the ground and then kicked him unconscious in a “wholly unprovoked attack” after their vehicles were involved in a minor smash, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.
The 23-year-old, who is from Skidmore Avenue, in Bradmore, Wolverhampton, was described in court as a respectable young man who played the violin, enjoyed rugby and had dreams of becoming an area sales manager for the steel giant, which has a factory based in Wednesfield.
He pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm on January 9.
Mr Timothy Pole, prosecuting, told yesterday how Smith was driving his car in the city centre on April 6 last year when he was involved in a minor collision.
He said Smith became aggressive and demanded £50 cash when the other driver, a Mr Sali, said he was going to call the police.
“His temper became worse and he punched him to the face several times and then kicked him while on the ground,” Mr Pole said. “There were many witnesses to this attack who were very upset by it.”
The victim suffered cuts and severe bruising to his face and body.
He said: “I was knocked to the ground and the next thing I remember is the ambulance turning up.”
Mr Steve Hoskings, for Smith, said he came from a respectable family, and had represented the county in rugby and played the violin.
Recorder Anthony Lowe imposed a three-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, a two-year supervision order and told him to pay £1,867 in costs and £500 compensation.
“You carried out a wholly unprovoked attack and it is clear Mr Sali lost consciousness. It is difficult to understand quite what made you behave in this way as there is nothing to suggest you have a violent disposition. You are extremely fortunate – if you commit any other violent offences you are almost certainly going to prison.”
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Yet again, after hard work by the Police to catch and charge a violent offender, they’re let off by the courts with a slap on the wrist. The poor victim must still be traumatised by such a vicious and disgraceful attack.
Why do the courts not understand that these sorts of crimes put fear into everyday people? Do they not see that sentencing like this gives a green light to the scum of society in pull this contry down into a consequence free, terminal decline?
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i think this is unfair for my brother to be portrayed as such a violent character. he has never commited a crime before and was a victim of the circumstances, and with his girlfriend there recieving abuse, he reacted in a bad way, but i think anyone who is geting ‘beet up’ is going to protect themself, and there was violence on both sides but matthew came out the victor. if matthew was the weaker party the situation may have been differnt.
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Smith is obviously NOT a “respectable young man.” He’s a thug. Even thugs play the violin and rugby and have dreams but they’re still thugs. And having a “respectable family” has nothing to do with the attack. He’s responsible for his own actions.
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Why is it unfair for my brother to be portrayed as such a violent character when he clearly is? What has “coming from a respectable family” got to do with it? Victim of circumstance!!! Don’t make me laugh! He is a thug and his sentence should not have been suspended. Clearly he is incapable of self control. He is just another example of how more and more people nowadays refuse to accept any level of personal responsibility or responsibility for their own actions. Stop making excuses for him, he got off very lightly.
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If Brainlee Smith is going to defend his brother and prove that he comes from a good family it might be an idea to be able to spell and use grammer correctly when doing so. Or shall we take it that they only teach rugby and violin and not English in that part of wolverhampton?
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“My brother was a victim of circumstances”.
Yes indeed, and they were of his own making. He should be in prison and, if he spells like brianlee, kept there.
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He should have gone to prison and served hard labour for a minimum of five years.
He is nothing but a thug! Respectable people do not go around beating other people up regardless of circumstances. Yet again, we see our useless ineffective justice system at work. I for one will be getting a firearm, we need to defend ourself against these ruthless, irresponsible villians. I’m in my seventies and certainly do not mind ending my life knowing I can take one or two of these thugs with me. Think of it as providing a service to the community!
Enough is Enough! Time to act! We need people like Charles Bronson from the Death Wish films to patrol our streets, everything else has failed!
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the victim is to blame because he went to fight and got knocked out. then he snitches..wat an idiot
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Another limp wristed judge lets down britains police force yet again!!!!
And people wonder why there are so many hit and runs in this country, ….. mmmmmm ….. makes you wonder why doesn’t it????
There was no need for violence from either party, thats what insurance companies are for.
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Cameron said: Feb 20th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
I for one will be getting a firearm, we need to defend ourself against these ruthless, irresponsible villians. I’m in my seventies and certainly do not mind ending my life knowing I can take one or two of these thugs with me.
I will walk the streets safely knowing that cameron is as likely to shoot himself as anybody else :0)
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Phil Beddard why is it that you and others I have read over the course of reading various posts on here always lower yourselves to the status of trying to belittle people for there points of view by pointing out spelling errors. The sister is not on trial for defending her brother or having her own personal views and opinions that others may disagree with but none the less is entitled. Without some small minded petty individual making a personal attack on an individuals education and spelling ability. Noone not even YOU is infallible.
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It is very easy to judge a situation of which we are not fully aware of the facts. Remember that the media can be an excellent way of coercing us into a single way of thinking without giving a true representation of the event. Phil Beddard, i hardly think you can point out Brian Lees spelling mistakes with your own incorrect spelling of the very word grammar!! Do they not teach English in your part of the country?
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