Police believe road rage driver had ‘false number plates’

Photo: Google

Kingsway

Police believe a road rage driver who attacked a local man was driving with false number plates.

Local resident Tom Bishop was attacked by another driver in a fit of road rage on Sunday morning (21 January), after a man in a black Golf attempted to force him into oncoming traffic by undertaking numerous cars.

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.

Speaking to Rochdale Online on Monday, the accountant spoke of his disappointment with the response from the police.

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/115554/police-tell-road-rage-victim-to-forget-it

Tom 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.”

However, police have now revealed the investigation is still ongoing, and officers believe the vehicle was fitted with false registration plates.

A GMP Spokesperson said: “On Sunday 21 January 2018 police received a report of a road rage assault on Queensway in Rochdale.

“Officers launched an investigation and were given a number plate of the vehicle that the offender was driving.

“Unfortunately after tracing the number plate it became clear that the vehicle has no current registered keeper and police now believe the vehicle had false number plates.

“This has meant all lines of enquiry have proved negative unfortunately, and without further evidence the prospect of finding the offender and getting a conviction is slim.

“We have not, however, closed this investigation and the vehicle has been added to our search systems. Should the vehicle be traced and located and the driver identified we will re-open our lines of enquiry.

“This crime was given to the GMP Resolution team to act upon, and we have invited the victim to give us feedback on any issues so we can review the situation.”