A angry driver has been fined after he spat on a fellow motorist during an episode of road rage on a busy road.
Taylor Thompson and the victim each claimed the other had been driving erratically in their vehicles as they travelled in the same direction on the Coast Road, heading towards North Shields. But, when the pair came to a stop at traffic lights, Thompson got out his van and spat through the open window of the male victim, hitting him on the cheek and on his sunglasses, a court heard.
The disgusting outburst has now hit the 25-year-old in the pocket after he appeared at North Tyneside Magistrates' Court to plead guilty to common assault and was fined £666 and ordered to pay £100 compensation. The expectant dad, of Audley Road, in Birmingham, must also cough up £85 in prosecution costs.
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Claire Armstrong, prosecuting, said both men were travelling towards North Shields on the Coast Road on August 30 this year. The victim claimed that Thompson was constantly undertaking him and other vehicles but Thompson claimed he had lawfully overtaken the victim and he was refusing to let him back into his lane.
Magistrates deemed that it would not make a difference to sentence who had been driving erratically and the case proceeded, despite the conflicting accounts. Miss Armstrong said the victim stopped at a set of traffic lights and Thompson pulled up closely behind him.
Miss Armstrong continued: "The complainant's window was slightly open, two to three inches, to let air into the car. While the complainant was stopped at the traffic lights, the box van, driven by the defendant, stopped behind him and the defendant got out the van and appeared angry and looking for an argument.
"The complainant remained in his car and the defendant said "what the f****s going on?". The complainant said he was surprised and didn't know what he was referring to. The complainant says he told the defendant he had dash cam. Prior to the defendant being told this, the complainant states that the defendant spat at him through his open window and it hit him on the right side of his cheek and his sunglasses and an internal mirror."
In a statement, the victim said: "I'm shocked by this incident - spitting is disgusting. I feel dirty having spit land on me and in my vehicle and at the thought of the driver having an infectious illness."
The court was told that Thompson, who had seven offences on his record but hadn't been in trouble since 2014, had acted out of "frustration". Sophie Allinson, defending, added: "He recognises that it was disgusting behaviour and not behaviour he condones. He wants to put this matter to bed immediately."
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