A judge told a Dunedin man he should display a cautionary bumper sticker after his road rage landed him in court.
Samuel Evan Lake, 33, appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday and admitted charges of assault, intimidation and wheel-spinning.
An agreed police summary said that on May 8, the defendant was driving in Portobello Rd with his school-aged child when he stopped his car, bringing the vehicle behind him to a halt.
Lake confronted the man in the car, believing he had been tailgating him with high-beam lights on.
The defendant tried to open the victim’s door before swearing at him, punching the window and trying to rip the wing mirror off.
The following week, Lake aggressively spun his wheels while driving but told police it was because he took off aggressively and had a powerful car.
Later the same month, Lake was in a carpark revving his engine and a member of the public made a comment about the noise he was making.
In response, the defendant turned off his car and punched the victim in the face, causing him to stumble and fall to the ground.
Judge Emma Smith was not impressed by the defendant’s behaviour.
"He should have a bumper sticker: ‘don't drive behind me I’m aggressive’," she said.
"You’re 33, what are you doing spinning your tyres and revving ... what’s the excitement or interest you get in behaving in that particular way?"
The judge tried to put her finger on what caused Lake to offend, and thought he needed to grow up.
"What’s his problem, is he just angry at life?" she asked Lake’s lawyer.
Counsel Andy Belcher said his client had a difficult background and had become institutionalised.
He said Lake was remorseful and was willing to do an anger management course.
Judge Smith noted the defendant had stayed out of trouble for a long period and sentenced him to 120 hours’ community work and 12 months’ supervision.
Lake was also disqualified from driving for six months.
