Road rage driver smashed into car carrying couple and child in Plymouth
A MAN took his sister’s car while she went shopping and pushed another driver after their vehicles collided, a court heard.
Uninsured Merle Leaman, aged 41, tried to goad the man into a fight during a road rage incident, Plymouth magistrates were told.
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Road rage driver smashed into car carrying couple and child in Plymouth
He walked away from the scene, where the stranger’s car was written off, and tried to fight off a policeman who was attempting to arrest him.
Leaman, of Duncombe Avenue, Honicknowle, admitted aggravated vehicle taking and failing to stop after an accident on February 12.
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He also pleaded guilty to threatening behaviour and resisting a police officer on the same day.
Magistrates, having read a probation report on his background, gave him an 18-month community order under the service’s supervision.
He will have to do the Thinking Skills programme.
The bench also banned him from driving for 12 months and ordered that he pay the other driver £300 compensation.
Angela Furniss, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said Leaman’s sister left him in the Micra with the keys in the ignition while she went into the Tesco store in Crownhill. Mrs Furniss said Leaman drove the car to Whitleigh where he crashed into an oncoming Volkswagen Golf containing a couple and their eight-year-old son in Derby Road. Mrs Furniss said driver Michelle Barnard described how the Micra came down the hill at a point where there was no room for both cars to pass. The court heard the Micra started to brake but collided with the Golf. Nobody was hurt.Mrs Furniss said Golf passenger Christopher Barnard remonstrated with Leaman but the defendant pushed him several times.
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She added: “Mrs Barnard said the defendant went up to her husband and put his face really close. He then pushed her husband several times in the chest and said: ‘Do you know who I am? I have been to prison’.”
Mrs Furniss said Leaman left the scene but was tracked down by police. She added he struggled and swore at the officer before he was overpowered at Whitleigh Bridge.
The court heard he had nine previous convictions for 21 offences.
Leaman, representing himself, said: “I am sorry, I take responsibility for what happened. I have been out of trouble for seven years and I have dealt with my drug problem and come a long way in that time.”
Comments
by belly1234
Thursday, September 06 2012, 4:14PM
“As he seems to think bragging about being in prison is the "in" thing maybe the magistrates should have sent him back there to continue his "thinking skills" program. Who makes these schemes up? It's a pity he didn't resist a bit more violently with the police who could have given a nice big lump and gravel rash to think about.”
by Bwiththeollox
Wednesday, September 05 2012, 1:21PM
“How about a Black an white stripped prison outfit theme painted on the post box in his street?”
by fazer58
Tuesday, September 04 2012, 1:31AM
“"Been out of trouble for 7 years"
Apart from stealing a car,driving while uninsured,threatening behaviour,leaving the scene of an accident,potentially killing an entire family less than a year ago Merle.
I'd hate to hear what young Einstein defines as trouble.
Pathetic sentence for a pathetic person.”
by jaygeek1
Monday, September 03 2012, 5:48PM
“Leaman, of Duncombe Avenue, Honicknowle.........Honicknowle Defence Force ? ? ? DONT YOU KNOW WHO I AM, I HAVE BEEN TO PRISON ? ? ? And what does that mean exactly ? You are skilled in the art of vaseline usage ?
He had nine previous convictions for 21 offences.........Lucky there is no 3 strikes and you get 25 years !”
by trudie2010
Monday, September 03 2012, 3:10PM
“What use is a "thinking program" to an idiot like this, just throw him in jail for a couple of years.”
by choclabx2
Monday, September 03 2012, 2:59PM
“It really makes me mad when i read about things like this.I have just returned from the a386 where there has been a horrific pile up involving 3 or 4 cars.This could've been the case here.Keep a lid on your temper or just don't get in any car again please”
by choclabx2
Monday, September 03 2012, 2:57PM
“It really makes me mad when”
by swshaun
Monday, September 03 2012, 1:08PM
“So, you crash an uninsured car that you took without consent - theft-. You then try and goad a innocent victim into a fight, then try to fight off a police officer in the line of duty. The punishment? 18 months of being good and a 'thinking program' to go in. What a joke.”
by Coprofile
Monday, September 03 2012, 12:18PM
“Lovely guy; put him on your Christmas card mailing list.”
by renegade20122
Monday, September 03 2012, 10:22AM
“should have been jailed ,,,,,”