Driver jumped out of his van and punched cyclist in face

A FURIOUS van driver slammed on his brakes, jumped out of his vehicle and viciously punched a cyclist in the face after a nasty “road rage” confrontation suddenly escalated into violence.

- By MARK NAYLOR [e-mail] @GTMarkNaylor

Adrian Burrows was enraged that the man and his wife were riding along the road itself rather than on a nearby cycle path. He hurled abuse at the cyclist – including calling him a f***ing southerner – during an “emotionally charged” argument The cyclist was left deeply shocked by the attack and struggled to “comprehend the level of hatred to cyclists” on the roads from vehicle drivers, Hull Crown Court heard.

Burrows, 40, of Chapel Garth, Skipsa, admitted assaulting the man, causing actual bodily harm, and causing criminal damage to a bicycle on June 29.

Jennifer Gatland, prosecuting, said that a 57-year-old man and his wife were cycling along Kingsgate, Bridlington, at 9.05am when Burrows appeared on the scene driving a van. Burrows told him: “There’s a f***ing bike path over there.”

The man replied: “What is it to do with you, mate?” and Burrows told him: “F*** off, you southern ****” before driving in front of the cyclists. He slammed on his brakes in a bus stop area. The cyclist had to slam on his brakes and swerve into the road to prevent crashing into the van.