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Police discretion saved my bacon today

Freefaller

Freefaller

Freefaller

Man of Honour
Joined
5 Jun 2003
Posts
92,069
Location
Falling...
And no this is not about going over the speed limit.

I was very very stupid today, and were it not for a) my good manners b) my slightly educated elocution (and wearing a nice suit) c) the witnesses d) the other bloke being a complete **** etc... I'd have been in a bit of trouble, and in my line of work I can't really afford to clock up a criminal record.

The quick version of the story.... 3 lanes, 2 of them turn right, one turns left. A set of traffic lights with 2 lanes before the aforementioned 3 lanes. The right hand lane at the lights is for the 2 lanes going right, the left hand lane is for the lane going to the left.

I was in the RHL. Lights go green I go straight onto the left hand lane turning right the car to behind me goes to the right, and the blue "white van man" decides he wants to be in my lane and makes an exaggerated braking and swerving manoeuvre as if to imply I was in the wrong and he had to take evasive measures (even though there was plenty of room on the left hand lane to go left - the lane he should have taken).

Anyway a lot of commotion hooting, and swearing ensues (on his behalf), he dives across the right hand lane nearly sideswiping a car and a cyclist, then darts in front of me and slams on the brakes! He comes running out of his van and yanks open my door - now this is odd as in London I normally have my doors locked - so I must have forgotten to lock it! Dammit!

So here I have this scrawny mouthy goit, in a smelly t-shirt swearing and gesticulating at me and asking me to get out of the car and almost pulling me out of the car. I'm in my suit on my way to a meeting with the regional director so I don't intend on a) being late b) having some yob spit on me or whatever is deemed offensive these days.

Reluctantly I get out of the car, taking off my glasses first (they're expensive and I didn't want spittle all over them). Clearly this was a bad move as it antagonises him further and he starts pushing me saying "oh yeah getting ready for some are ya?" Or some words along those lines.

Anyway after a couple of exchanged words (actually it was a unilateral conversation... no... a swearing spree by him only) he shoves me as hard as he could. I must say at this point I was mildly vexed, and snapped :o I shoved him hard using my shoulder and arms (imagine a rugby ruck) at my full force against his van - and he crumple into a heap on the floor :( Oh ****. I was genuinely petrified - I didn't feel good or anything, I was genuinely thinking **** **** **** ****. Fortunately one of the crowds watching had called the police about 10 minutes previous and they arrives shortly after this.

I gave my statements the witnesses explained what happened. I was given a right earful and amazingly wasn't cautioned or arrested. Neither was he though his insurance was invalid apparently (I over heard on their radio) but I don't know what happened. I hardly managed to drive to my meeting I was shaking like a leaf (adrenaline). I#ve never been bullied and I refuse to be bullied and I'm afraid I do have a bit of a "animal instinct" about these things. The guy tried to press charges for assault. Incidentally he was ok, though he was out of it for a few minutes.

I'm not proud of what I did, and I could have been really badly hurt, or even killed had he pushed me into a car, or vice versa (I'd have been royally ****ed). I mean yeah I was 10x the size of the guy and clearly much much stronger but I should have just apologised and let him have his say and just backed away as best I could. I just snapped though. :(

Anyway the police were VERY professional and amazingly supportive towards me which I didn't expect, as I said maybe it's the way I came across and the help of the witnesses. I'm a softly spoken person not "in your face" at all - though I am quite a big chap so maybe that's what antagonised the van driver the police said who incidentally said he was glad he didn't have to arrest me! Not that I would have put up a fight anyway.

Anyway my point is, the police can be fair and rational if you do as they say and are calm and rational with them and explain what had happened. Furthermore, don't forget to lock your doors, and don't antagonise ****heads who obviously just want a fight. I was a lucky son of a bitch today, not only from my health POV but from being arrested which would have had a direct impact on my work.

I'm expecting a lot of people here to rip me to pieces but hey I just wanted to show that the police can be fair and good people.
 
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I don't see how anyone could rip you to pieces for that. Knowing you I know thats your last course of action. I'd probably have reacted in the same way but much earlier, and might be in a much worse situation than you now find yourself.

Don't blame yourself for any of it. You were in the right on the road and you have a right to not be bullied.
 
Now you see on a rugby pitch I've taken on 19st huge mofos without too much fear, however I was seriously shaking after that, and felt very very queasy. I know what ifs are stupid, but what if the charges could have been pressed, what if I had REALLY hurt him badly? What if he had had a knife?! I know it's stupid thinking but that's what went through my head afterwards. I'm still shaking now. Had I not been a big guy I'd have been ****ed. Damn my pride about being bullied. :rolleyes:

I think I might have to have a few whiskies tonight...

Bah and I'm supposed to be an adrenaline junkie!

I wasn't trying to show off by this post either just share my experiences...

And Gilly, thanks mate that means a lot. :)
 
No, I think you did the right thing. Even if you had cocked up on the road he's got no right to jump out the van and start intimidating people. Unluckily for him he met a big bloke and pushed him over the edge but imagine if that was me, the guy probably would have just taken a swipe and given me a black eye to take to work. **** him I say, I think the phrase is taste of his own medicine and a lot of people are lacking having a taste of it.
 
The trouble is, FF, that this is the sort of thing that can get rapidly out of hand. If he was a nutter with a knife he may well have given you a stick before getting back in his van and driving off.

Or, like you said, either of you may have been pushed into the path of another car.

Sadly your door wasn't locked and he could get at you. I had a similar occurence once in Scotland. A guy in a white van tried overtaking me on a blind bend as we went over the crest of a steep hill. I was already only about 2 car lengths from the huge articulated lorry we were following. His machine didn't have the power to get past me and the lorry, causing me to have to slam on my brakes to let him in between us. He then swerved across to block the road and jumped out, cursing and threatening me. Luckily I had the doors locked and just sat there ignoring the cretin until he remembered that he was in such a hurry that he had to overtake on a blind bend and force himself into a gap that wasn't there, and he got back into his white van and roared off.

It's sad that nowadays you can't even have a basic "incident" without some guy threatening all sorts, and now and again even carrying out those threats.

By the sound of it though, I'm not surprised the police did nothing though, you were defending yourself from a madman, any onlooker would have had to have agreed to that.
 
erm don't be ashamed you did the right thing. We are all human and there is only so much bull anyone can be expected to take. Ideots like him should be shot. What you did was self defence. Ok he might have got up and really hurt you but you could not be expected to just stand there and wait for you to pummel him. If he has shouted abuse at you and then you lost your rag and smacked him one on the nose then I would have no sympathy for you but from the way you describe it, it was self defence. I guess the police probably thought so too?

I've had a few phychos have a go at me. The first time I was in the wrong and deserved the mouthful of abuse I got. I apologised and said I realised I had driven badly and he went away. The second time some drugged up thugs were driving the wrong way down a one way street and drove sraight in to the side of my Xantia which I had only purchased 2 days ago. Then drove off at speed but eventually came back when he noticed that I had made a note of his reg plate. Came out screaming and shouting saying "hope you've got good insurance". I told them I had thank you and to cut the attitude since they had crashed in to me driving the wrong way! Then he started demanding to know where I lived. I told him I was not telling him any details until he put his on a pen and paper for me. He refused so I told him to I was not bothered about insurance since he had only put a small scrape on my car. Eventually he realised he was getting a good deal and went. He was lucky I didn't phone the police because I suspect firstly he didn't have insurance and secondly he was under the influence of drink or drugs.
 
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mattpc said:
erm don't be ashamed you did the right thing. We are all human and there is only so much bull anyone can be expected to take. Ideots like him should be shot.
Click to expand...

The annoying thing seems to be that in any sane world the rozzers would lock the scumbag up for threatening behaviour, they would also crush his van for driving (apparently) without insurance, but instead, it seems, they feel the need to give FF a right talking to about defending himself from a retard with anger issues.

It's simply not right if you ask me.

White van moron is now free to do it again knowing full well that if he gets a reaction from his next target, he can get the police to threaten them with arrest, while he carries on his way, bullying and threatening people whenever he sees fit.
 
I'd have done exactly the same thing mate, infact I'm amazed you managed to keep your composure for as long as your post suggests you did, the guy sounds like a complete **** and I would probably have lost it and lamped him a lot sooner :o

Good show from the Police too, contrary to popular belief they are human and there are a lot out there willing to excercise common sense and discretion, generally when you aren't a gobby **** to them :)
 
You did nothing wrong IMHO.

It's not how I'd have handled the situation, but it was not a wrong way to handle the situation.

You managed to get away with:
-Smashing the idiot into his van.
-Him not being able to persecute you.
-The police giving him a sterner talking to than I imagine they gave you.
-Him getting caught driving un-insured.
 
You did what any normal human being would. Trying to react to mixed bag of feelings in a very small space of time is no easy task!
 
Yeah you have done nothing wrong in my eyes. id would have as DreXel says reacted a lot sooner than you. Have yourself a drink and try to forget about it.. oh and keep those doors locked :p some psycho's out there
 
Were you in your mx-5? Maybe he was expecting some nancy to come prancing out of it ;)

You just showed a natural reaction, as much as you try avoid such things it's amazing what your body will do in the heat of the moment.
 
Good on you, heartwarming to hear stories like this where some mouthy toe-rag gets his come-uppance. Maybe its a good thing he stopped when he did if he was driving so dangerously, his lack of insurance could have caused major grief for some poor soul had he got back in his car and nuttered off down the road in that state!
 
Maybe it was one of those things that are meant to happen... karma and all that.

It's interesting to hear some of your stories too.

And yeah Volo - I know what you're saying, you don't always think when you're pumped full of adrenaline...

Ah well the gym and the rugby are paying off! :D

By the way I have no idea if he was uninsured, I just heard on the radio that there was something not quite right...

I wasn't in the MX5 - but he probably still thought I was a nancy boy and not a 96kg brute! :p
 
I think the fact that you're still shaking now says a lot - you ended up in a situation you didn't go out to create. He did. If you'd come out of it feeling good that you got the upper hand, I'd have less respect for you. As it is - my hat is doffed - I would have handled it much worse and probably ended up in casualty or worse.
 
WOW! Mr Angry :p

To be honest the guy was being very aggressive towards you for ages before you took any action, as far as I can see from your series of events it was practically an act of self defense! Good on you I say!
 
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