C*nt on Vauxhall Bridge Road

Yeah, I know, this is London, HTFU, and all that. I don't usually bleat about car drivers on here, but this one probably warrants it.

Came north over Vauxhall Bridge at around 8 this morning and turning right into John Islip Street I have to go round a car stopped at the junction with hazards on. Too late, I realise he's obviously rear-ended someone and there's oil pouring out onto the road. Inevitably I go down, but no great drama at this point, so I get up stand the bike up and ask him for his details in case I need to make a claim. He argues it's not his fault as he didn't knock me off, I argue that the oil from his car caused me to come off, so I'd like his details anyway.

He keeps refusing, so I get my phone and start taking pictures, at which point he goes to his boot, gets a big car jack out and comes at me with it. My initial reaction is to tell him to fuck off, until he swings it at me, hits my hand and my phone goes flying. He then starts waving it around and threatening me with it. Eventually a bus driver and I persuade him to put it away and, after exchanging numerous insults, I fuck off to work.

Amazingly, the phone still works a bit and I have pictures and his registration number. I've called the police to report the incident and get a reference number for insurance purposes, but they now want me to attend a station to give a full statement because of his threatening behaviour/assault. I guess I probably should.

No point posting his registration number, as the car looked a write off - front end totally caved in, nose sitting on the tarmac, axle collapsed, etc. At least his day is gonna be a whole lot worse than mine.

Bleat over.

Sorry to hear about that mate- and I think you should attend the police station.

The chap was having a bad day- fine, but no need to be such a twat about it, he was clearly going to have to speak to his insurer anyway.

That is if he was insured, which might be why he was so upset.

Anyway- get down to the cop-shop forthwith.

Wait til your hand bruises up nicely, take some more photos and do him for assault. Just because he's fucked his car doesn't give him any reason to attack anyone.

That cunt needs teaching a lesson. Go to the cop shop.

Claim for the phone as well, just to clarify your opinion of him.

this will all be on cctv as it's a major junction near lots of government buildings. dunno if you can get them to look for the 'event'.
i would chase it up though as the bloke is a nutter.

Definitely get photos of your hand bruising if it does. Is important to have that.

Re-iterating what people have said so-far, go to the police & file for assault - regardless of whether he's having a bad day, you don't twat people with a wrench........

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unlucky mate, sorry to hear that, hope he gets done for assault!

Ouch. Thats pretty fcked up.

WAC!!

All that needs saying

... but they now want me to attend a station to give a full statement because of his threatening behaviour/assault. I guess I probably should. ...

yes, I think you should. with an attitude like that he's likely to be a repeat offender, even if this incident doesn't land him in jail, it's good for the police/court to know about it.

Hmmm

I for one wouldn't bother. you can't go through life constantly reporting every prick in the world, life's too short.

You should have picked up your bike and hurt him with it. Then rode off.

Grrrr. I should have been there, I would have sorted him out.
Go to the police Mark. I don't want to see that guy on my commute. Presumably he was exchanging details with the car he rear-ended?

Glad you are ok. Make the statement and get the bastard arrested!!

I've thought about it and, while I tend to agree with Skully, in this case I think I will report him. He was so reluctant to give me his details that he may well not have insurance and/or MOT - so it would be good to deal with that. The vehicle he had rear-ended wasn't there, so no way of checking details with them.

I need to check my bike out properly too, in case there is damage.

A trip to Belgravia station it is over lunch then.....

True, I hadn't considered injury to you or damage to the bike.

Sue him in the head.

I think if I'd just rear-ended someone and then whilst stuck in the middle of the junction, a cyclist came too close, slipped over and asked me for my insurance details in case his bike was scratched, I too would have gone stratospheric. However I would probably have just had a massive tantrum and eventually handed over my details. Deffo follow it up with the old bill. Hope your hand heals up!

MB i think that you are right going to the police is the right thing. he is a propert CU NT

Sorry to heat that, I hate these tw*ts

Unhelpful comment:

Get someone to really mess up your hand even more, then see if you can get him for Section 20 GBH. If you can prove he intended to cause harm (section 18 GBH), and I recon going to the boot for a big metal object might constitute that, then he might get some nick time.

End of unhelpful comment.

Although you already have grounds for section 24 ABH assault. He would defiantly still get a firm telling off.

this will all be on cctv as it's a major junction near lots of government buildings. dunno if you can get them to look for the 'event'.

Not at that junction there isn't (although i guess it depends exactly where he was). Probably the most exciting thing to ever happen on John Islip Street...

Matt_r_p still no excuse for the trip to the boot for the jack etc though surely?

^ certainly not!! Just saying it was a bit like walking into a petrol station & lighting a fag. The assailant still needs arresting.

I think if I'd just rear-ended someone and then whilst stuck in the middle of the junction, a cyclist came too close, slipped over and asked me for my insurance details in case his bike was scratched, I too would have gone stratospheric. However I would probably have just had a massive tantrum and eventually handed over my details. Deffo follow it up with the old bill. Hope your hand heals up!

Not sure how I came** too** close or where I mentioned scatches, I went around him in the only way I could in busy traffic. He just happened to be spewing out oil all over the road. How he ended up like this, frustrating for him or not, it wasn't unreasonable to ask for his insurance details. I've learned in the past that you pick yourself up and ride away, only to find out too late that there is damage to you or the bike that you didn't spot at the time.

TBH, going "stratospheric" at a reasonable request is up to him, attacking me is kind of out of order.

He was simply scared of you. Funny he chose to get into more trouble by hitting you...
Did you get the details of the bus driver ( good on him to help you).