Cyclist ordered to undertake 100 hours of community service for smashing up taxi after altercation

A cyclist has been given community service after he smashed up the taxi of a man he earlier had an altercation with in Nottingham.  The court heard how cyclist Junior Douglas squared up to the cab driver after accusing him of cutting him up on the road. 

Words were exchanged before the two men parted ways, only for Douglas to see the cabbie stop again in Orange Gardens, Nottingham. 

Douglas was unaware that the destination was in fact the taxi driver's home, where they clashed again. 

The court heard how the taxi driver's daughter became frightened as Douglas approached. The cabbie grabbed a wrench from the boot of his vehicle and struck Douglas on the arm. 

Douglas later damaged two rear windows and broke the plastic cover on the driver's side wing mirror.  

As reported in the Nottinghamshire Live, Derek St Delroy Brown, mitigating, told the city court: "There are always two sides to every story. "It is suggested it is a completely unprovoked matter but Mr Douglas was riding a bike and was cut up by the taxi driver. Words were exchanged." Mr Brown said: "The taxi driver went to the boot of the car, pulled out a wrench and struck him on the arm." He said that Douglas was "clearly provoked and at the time was intoxicated."

Douglas, 29, admitted damaging two windows and part of the bodywork of the car. Douglas was ordered to complete 100 hours of community service. He also admitted having four small bags of cannabis on 20 June.  The magistrates ordered the destruction of the drugs and ordered Douglas to pay £170 in prosecution costs and a government surcharge. Emma Wakefield, prosecuting, said that the driver took a tyre iron out of his car, telling the court: "There was a physical altercation. It is not subject to charge." She stressed that the daughter of the taxi driver became frightened at Douglas' approach, where he was saying: "I am going to beat you up. I am going to have you." Presiding magistrate David Clarson, who sat with two other JPs, told Douglas: "Clearly you have a history in relation to criminal damage and that doesn't work in your favour. This is another in that category and it aggravates the situation." As he left court, Douglas said: "Thank you very much. Have a good day." 

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