Road rage attacker ordered to pay victim's dental bill
Tuesday, 28 February 2017
A motorist who attacked a man in a road rage incident behaved in an 'utterly inappropriate way' and has been sentenced to community work and ordered pay $1250 for his victim's dental bill and emotional harm.
Craig Healey, a truck driver, was driving a Honda Odyssey on State Highway Two, near Clive, on November 25 last year when he became angered at another motorist's driving.
Healey, 36, followed the victim's black Nissan Skyline to a passing lane north of Clive. He overtook the car, slammed on his brakes and put his hand out a window to signal the driver to pull over.
The driver pulled over opposite Hohepa Homes and Healey pulled over in front of him.
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Healey got out of his car and approached the victim, who remained seated.
According to a police summary of facts Healey 'confronted him about his manner of driving'. Then he punched him in the mouth.
Healey got back in his car and drove to the Napier police station to hand himself in. He told police he was annoyed with the man's driving. He was charged with assault with intent to injure.
The victim sustained a broken front left tooth which was embedded in the roof of his mouth.
Healey pleaded guilty and was sentenced in Napier District Court on Tuesday.
Judge Philip Crayton told Healey he had 'completely over-reacted' and his offending had caused 'significant physical harm with the victim requiring three weeks off work'.
'Unfortunately for you this is not something that can be said to be out of the blue. You are someone who has previous convictions in 1998 and 2009 for assault,' the judge said.
'This was utterly inappropriate and violence in such circumstances cannot be tolerated,' Judge Crayton said.
He sentenced Healey to 150 hours community work and ordered him to pay $1250 reparation.