Police tell road rage victim to 'forget' it!

Photo: Google

Kingsway

A local man who was attacked by another driver in a fit of road rage has spoken of how annoyed he is with the police response - telling him he is best to 'forget' it.

Tom Bishop was driving along Kingsway with his pregnant wife and two-year-old son at around 11am on Sunday morning (21 January), when another driver in a black Golf attempted to force him into oncoming traffic by undertaking numerous cars.

Tom explained: “I was heading to take an elderly man to Sunday mass with my wife and toddler when I was attacked in broad daylight in the middle of the road.

“He was driving slowly at first and then belted it down the road until he got to a parked car. This is when he tried to shove me to the other side of the road into direct oncoming traffic. He seemed to realise he could not undertake everyone due to a parked car.”

When they pulled up at the next set of traffic lights, Tom says the man got out of his car, approached him and punched him through the partially open driver’s window, cutting his face and nose.

The accountant said: “Despite reporting to the police, they told me that they think it best to forget this because it is difficult to trace the driver on the basis that the car is registered as a trader.

“The police did not tell me which trader this is registered to, but I do not believe they are going to take it further. What is the point of being registered if anyone can drive it? Surely if it is being used for local errands, the businesses should be checking who is taking the vehicles in or out?”

He continued: “I spoke with the police on Sunday, and they said it was being passed to a resolution centre. This is when they told me there is little chance of being able to trace the man. Several people have come forward to me with similar incidents with him, and we believe he is a repeat offender. I am also surprised no other members of the public stopped to see if I was okay.

“I am disappointed with the police’s response, and annoyed, because it almost seems like an excuse to close the case and I have had to keep contacting them, they have made no attempt to contact me. I have also written to MP Tony Lloyd about the matter.”

“I am really concerned because he had no qualms about hitting me in front of my young son and my wife, and in broad daylight. They were both shocked and my son was really upset. I genuinely thought he was on something because he was so aggressive with this sheer look of hatred in his eyes. He was past reasonable, he was trying to get in the door.

“I am hoping by sharing my side of the incident, something will change. People should not be frightened of reporting this type of crime for fear they are seen as racist.” 

Tom concluded: “It could have been so much worse, and there is another opportunity for him to do this again, and next time, someone might not be so lucky. I just want justice because he seems very dangerous.”

Mr Lloyd’s office has confirmed they are looking into the issue.

GMP has been contacted for comment.