Tradesman hit with car in parking row

A man who drove his car at a tradesman over a row about parking has been jailed for more than half a decade.

Robert Skilton, 65, drove at the victim on the afternoon of 26 July, leaving him with a severe cut near his wrist right down to the bone, before driving off.

The victim, a man in his 50s, had been working in one of the flats at The Brindles, in Green Street, March, with his daughter.

At just before 2pm, Skilton, who was in his car, confronted his daughter about their van being parked round the back of the block of flats.

The victim came outside after hearing the exchange and an argument broke out. Skilton drove directly at the tradesman, hitting him and his works van.

When police arrived Skilton had gone but was quickly found leaving a motorway service station in Essex, and arrested on suspicion of assault occasioning grievous bodily harm (GBH).

In police interview he gave a prepared statement, denying causing GBH. He claimed he had used “proportionate and reasonable” force in response to feeling threatened and fearing for his life after seeing the victim holding a hammer.

Skilton continued to deny the offence but was charged and stood trial at Peterborough Crown Court in November, where jurors took less than two hours to unanimously find him guilty.

He was sentenced at the same court last Friday (22 December) where he was handed a total of six years in prison. Skilton was also disqualified from driving for 13-and-a-half years.

DC Chris Herring, who investigated, said: “Thanks to the actions of the first officers on the scene linking in with officers from another county, Skilton was quickly found and arrested, which helped to secure valuable evidence and get a dangerous man off the streets.

“Skilton’s behaviour was very reckless; he used his car as a weapon against someone who was just doing their job – and all over an argument about parking. 

"This was the second time Skilton had run someone over with his vehicle – which the judge took into consideration when sentencing - and he clearly hadn’t learnt his lesson after receiving a short custodial sentence last time.”