Suspended sentence for road rage driver who assaulted cyclist after making death threats
A later test showed Edward Shane was over the legal blood alcohol limit. He avoided jail after admitting making threats to kill, dangerous driving, assault by beating, driving with excess alcohol, and failing to provide a specimen for analysis
A driver who threatened to kill a cyclist before attacking the rider during what the victim described as a "near-death experience" has avoided an immediate jail sentence.
At Cardiff Crown Court, Edward Shane was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years, has been ordered to complete a rehabilitation course and was banned from driving for three years for the "terrifying" road rage incident on August 9 last year in Newport.
Wales Online(link is external) reports that the 69-year-old motorist overtook the cyclist, Marcus Twine, and sounded his horn as he passed, something the rider later questioned when the pair met again at a red light at the junction to a Sainsbury's supermarket shortly after.
Nik Strobl, prosecuting, explained how Shane had begun swearing at the cyclist, and told him he "will die on this road today" before a verbal altercation led to the motorist leaving his vehicle and exchanging punches with the cyclist, the two men ending up grappling on the floor.
The court heard that having got to their feet, Shane told the cyclist he had a gun and would shoot him. He went to the boot of his car and began looking for something before chasing the cyclist between stationary cars and picking up his bike, holding it over his head.
Mr Twine then kicked Shane who returned to his car while the cyclist looked over the damage to his bike. As the cyclist looked up he saw Shane revving his engine and driving towards him.
Mr Twine went behind a lamppost as Shane accelerated towards him, smashing into the street light, damaging it, his car and the rider's bike.
A blood test at hospital showed Shane's blood alcohol level to be 175mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood (legal limit is 80mg).
Shane pleaded guilty to making threats to kill, dangerous driving, assault by beating, criminal damage, driving with excess alcohol, and failing to provide a specimen for analysis. During an interview he said he had made the threats in the heat of the moment and had not meant them.
