A ROAD rage driver from Warwick who reversed into a cyclist who had banged on his window, knocking him from his bike, has been ordered to pay him £100 compensation.
Matthew Scarpellino, of Hampton Road, pleaded guilty at Warwick Crown Court to an offence of dangerous driving, for which he was given a conditional discharge for 12 months.
Judge Sylvia de Bertodano also banned the 25 year-old from driving for 12 months, which is the minimum for dangerous driving, and ordered him to pay £100 compensation to Mr Green and a £60 victim surcharge.
The court had heard that in May 2013 Mr Green, who was a keen cyclist, was riding a triangular circuit from Coventry to Warwick and then Leamington before returning to Coventry.
He was cycling along Myton Road towards Leamington when Scarpellino came up behind him in his car as he reached a refuge in the middle of the road.
There was horn-blowing from the defendant, and ‘a bit of argy-bargy between them’ as he went close to the bike to overtake at a point where the road was constricted by the refuge.
Prosecutor Charles Gardner told the court at an earlier hearing the rider had hit the window of the car with his hand as it passed, at which Scarpellino stopped sharply. He then reversed into the bike knocking Mr Green off.
There was damage to the bike and Mr Green suffered grazing to his elbow and knee.
Scarpellino then drove off, but was traced by the police later that day.
Following an adjournment after Scarpellino had entered his plea, Judge de Bertodano said: “This was an altercation with a cyclist. It matters not in the least whose fault it was.
“The cyclist didn’t like the way he was driving and hit his side window, and he stopped and reversed back and hit the bike.”
