Peter Torode initially pleaded not guilty and a trial was held on 31 October where he was found guilty due to “overwhelming evidence”.
Torode had been driving on 26 May when his wing mirror and the victim’s wing mirror clipped. Torode pursued the victim – who had a child in the car – overtook them and used intimidating behaviour.
A victim impact assessment was read out in court that indicated that the incident has had a long–lasting effect on the victim, with them now fearful of bumping into Torode. They said their child is now anxious when near blue vans.
Judge Gary Perry said he was unimpressed that Torode’s not-guilty plea led to the victim having to appear in court.
“This is the only road rage incident I’ve dealt with in the last four or five years,” he said.
Judge Perry considered acute personal circumstances as mitigation and said they were the only reason Torode wasn’t going to prison.
He sentenced Torode to 130 hours community service and took him off the road for two years. He argued that any compensation would most likely negatively impact the victim, and so a compensation order wasn’t made.