A driver accused of punching and strangling a cyclist during an alleged road rage incident on a Lake District pass has gone on trial.
Lee Kermode was riding with friends on Saturday, May 15, 2021.
At around 4.40pm he was riding alone on Hardknott Pass towards Ambleside and became aware of a Volvo behind him. He tucked into the left as much as he could, allowing the Volvo to safely overtake him, Carlisle Crown Court heard today.
On the right ahead was a layby which could have allowed the driver, 36-year-old James French, to safely overtake.
Prosecutor Neil Bisarya told a jury French didn’t steer to the right, instead passing the cyclist so close that it clipped his right arm with its nearside wing mirror.
Mr Kermode had shouted “Oi, idiot” and hit the Volvo’s nearside with the outside of his hand to make the driver aware of how close he was.
“Lee Kermode felt like the driver had done this on purpose in retaliation for being stuck behind him,” said Mr Bisarya.
The Volvo stopped. French allegedly walked straight back to Mr Kermode, shouting words to the effect of you should have stopped and let me go past.
Mr Bisarya said: “It is alleged that the defendant punched Lee Kermode in the nose and then again to the mouth. The defendant then put Lee Kermode in a choke-hold and wrestled him to the ground.
“Lee Kermode was still straddling his bicycle at the time the altercation took place. Both men fell to the ground and onto the bicycle, causing the bike frame to crack in three places.”
Mr Bisarya alleged that French stood over Kermode and started to strangle him with both hands.
“Lee Kermode stated that the defendant was strangling him with such force he that he could not breathe or make a sound,” said the prosecutor. “The complainant said that the defendant continued to strangle him for such a time that he could feel his body going weak.
“He felt like he was going to faint. Mr Kermode said he got into a state of panic and thought that the defendant was going to kill him.”
French was said to have suddenly stopped and moved away as a member of the public got out of their car and approached. Both men rang police after the incident, French alleging he’d been assaulted by a cyclist after his car was damaged.
When interviewed, French denied both driving too close to and attacking Mr Kermode. Mr Bisarya said: “He states that he was acting in self-defence after being attacked and had no choice but to restrain the cyclist.”
French, of Speakman Road, Dentons Green, St Helens, denies actual bodily harm assault. The trial continues.
