Rockingham: man runs cyclist off road because he gave him a ‘dirty look’

A MAN who ran a cyclist off the road said he did it because he was upset that the cyclist had given him a ‘dirty’ look.

Brian Eric Dale pleaded guilty to dangerous driving when he appeared at Rockingham Magistrates Court on September 28.

The prosecutor said it was a road rage incident which happened about 11.40am on March 30.

Dale was riding a motorbike along the Esplanade in Rockingham while a bike rider was immediately behind him.

The bike rider’s wife was also riding along but was further back on the road.

Dale repeatedly braked causing the male bike rider to continue to brake himself.

Eventually Dale pulled into his driveway and the cyclist rode past shaking his head at Dale due to his earlier manner of driving.

Dale jumped into a car and followed the cyclist, swerving dangerously close to him twice before he accelerated and pulled in front of the cyclist and up onto a footpath.

The cyclist was forced to slam on his brakes causing him to fall over the bike handle bars and hit the ground.

Dale got out of his car and began swearing and arguing with the cyclist before the cyclist’s wife intervened telling Dale to “just go away”.

He was later arrested on March 30 by police and denied the incident.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about – it’s not my car,” he said.

He was also charged with driving without a licence.

The duty lawyer said Dale accepted the facts and that the lights of the motorbike were faulty and would turn on and off.

“He got upset about the dirty look – and he did not like it because it was not his fault,” she said.

“He followed the cyclist because he wanted to explain – he didn’t think he was that close to the cyclist.”

She said he was remorseful and did have a record of prior poor driving.

Magistrate Brionie Ayling did not think Dale thought he was in the wrong.

“Essentially there still is a common theme of dangerous driving,” she said.

“There still is a problem with impulse control and anger.

“This offending – it speaks for itself – this is not road worthy behaviour.

“Your submissions indicate you perhaps don’t understand that your actions are a reflection of you.”

He was fined $700 and banned from driving for 12 months.