Private-hire driver sentenced after road rage abuse of test motoristA PRIVATE-HIRE driver who abused a learner driver as he took his test has been sentenced to do unpaid work after admitting dangerous driving.
Bolton Crown Court heard how Paul Turnock was being examined on June 18 when Metro private-hire driver Sharif Hussain became angry with him on Brownlow Way.
Lisi Ke, prosecuting, told Judge Timothy Stead how Hussain cut across a roundabout at great speed, and pulled up behind Mr Turnock and his examiner, Peter Hamer, revving his engine and then shouting and gesticulating at the car while driving behind, veering from side to side.
Even when Mr Hamer pointed out to him that a driving test was under way, 28-year-old Hussain continued his torrent of abuse.
"It caused considerable distress to the driver who was taking his test at the time," said Miss Ke.
Amazingly 44-year-old Mr Turnock, who was sitting his driving test for the third time, went on to complete the exam and passed.
Judge Stead was told that the incident was just one of several road rage incidents instigated by Hussain within three days.
The day after Mr Turnock's test, he cut in front of Andrea Beattie's car and continued to follow her home, shouting and screaming abuse at her
"She has felt very nervous since the incident and does not feel up to driving her car," said Miss Ke.
Just hours later, at 2.30pm, Hussain cut up HGV driver Sean Trundle, causing him to brake sharply to avoid a collision and when he pulled up in a nearby car park, Hussain behaved aggressively towards him.
Hussain, of Cross Street, Bolton, was arrested, admitted his behaviour to police, and offered apologies.
Two days before the incident involving Mr Turnock, Hussain had started a road rage incident with another driver, racially verbally abusing him.
He was charged with a public order offence, to which he pleaded guilty, and magistrates sentenced him to do 150 hours unpaid work.
Kimberley Morton, defending, told the court how Hussain is being treated for stress and at the time of the offences his dog was unwell, his college course was stressful and he was fasting.
"This defendant's behaviour was absolutely disgraceful and he does recognise that," she said, adding that he has lost his driving licence and his job as a private-hire driver.
"He won't be doing that again," said Judge Stead.
Hussain pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and two counts of careless driving.
The judge stressed that if he had been sentencing all four incidents together, then he would have considered a jail sentence.
"You seem to have lost all control of yourself when on the roads," he told Hussain, adding that he regarded his behaviour as "baffling".
After hearing that Hussain was complying well with doing the unpaid work imposed by magistrates, Judge Stead sentenced him to undertake an additional 100 hours.
Hussain was also banned from holding a driving licence for 18 months, after which he will have to take an extended retest.
Speaking after the hearing, app developer Mr Turnock said he was relieved Hussain has been taken off the road.
Mr Turnock first took his driving test when he was aged 18 and when he failed he rode his bicycle and used public transport instead.
However, the need to drive became more urgent this year when daughters Sinead, 16, and Mia, 12, came to live with him in Great Lever and he needed to transport them to school.
He also wanted to fulfil a promise to drive made to his late father, John, who died last year.
Mr Turnock told how he tried to remain calm while Hussain and his driving examiner argued for 10 minutes and was convinced that he would fail.
"I felt I had let my dad and my kids down," he said.
"I just sort of had to pull it together.
"I was really relieved to have passed, but I wasn't in any mood to celebrate. I think I was a bit traumatised for a while."
The following day Mr Turnock bought himself a car.
"At first I was apprehensive driving but that disappeared after a couple of weeks," he said.
He added that he is pleased Hussain has now lost his licence.
"Clearly, he shouldn't be on the roads," he said.
source:
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/141 ... _motorist/
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