A Suffolk van driver accused of punching and kicking another driver, before driving at him with such force that he ended up in a ditch, has described the alleged victim as “screaming and growling like an animal” during the incident.
Guy Clements told a jury at Ipswich Crown Court that the alleged victim, Simon Farmer, had attacked him and described him standing in the middle of the road like The Hulk.
“He was screaming and growling like an animal,” said Clements, who is a self-employed plumber.
He claimed he had raised his arms in the air in exasperation at Mr Farmer, who was waiting to reverse his people carrier into his drive, because of the traffic chaos he was causing.
He claimed this caused Mr Farmer to become “completely unhinged” and resulted in him getting out of his people carrier and wrenching open the passenger door of Clements’ van “like a madman”.
Clements said his fiancée, who was recovering from surgery and was in the passenger seat, had been upset and he had got out of the van and barged at Mr Farmer to get him away from the van.
He claimed Mr Farmer had swung punches at him and he had punched Mr Farmer three times to defend himself.
Clements said as he tried to drive away Mr Farmer had run out in front of him and clawed at the windscreen. Clements lurched his van forward 18 inches and when Mr Farmer stumbled he took the opportunity to get away. He denied attacking Mr Farmer and deliberately driving at him.
Clements, 55 and of Worlingworth Road, Athelington, Eye, has denied dangerous driving and assaulting Mr Farmer in January 2016.
The court has heard that Mr Farmer, of Lower Hacheston, was waiting to reverse into his drive when he became aware of Clements’ van behind him.
Oncoming traffic meant Clements was held up and when he did overtake he allegedly pulled alongside Mr Farmer and gesticulated at him.
Clements allegedly got out of his van and punched Mr Farmer in the face and kicked him in the groin before getting back in his van and allegedly driving at Mr Farmer, who was knocked into a ditch.
The court heard that as a result of the incident Mr Farmer allegedly suffered cuts and bruising. The trial continues.
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