A Warwickshire cyclist has been left with a broken arm after being pushed off his bike and assaulted in an attack that mirrors three others just a few miles away in a neighbouring county. In all four incidents, the car is described as being silver.
Update [10 August 2013]: Warwickshire Police have told road.cc that they do not believe the incident is linked to a series of others across the border in Leicestershire, where police have arrested a man in connection with four separate assaults.
Details of the latest were revealed yesterday by Warwickshire Police. The attack took place as the unnamed cyclist, a male aged in his twenties, rode from Nuneaton towards Ansley at around 7.40pm on the evening of Saturday 27 July.
As he headed along Ansley Road, he became aware that what was described as “a small silver car” that he had noticed shortly beforehand was travelling alongside him.
“The passenger had his window down and verbally abused [the cyclist] before opening the car door causing him to fall from the bike,” police said.
“The passenger is then believed to have got out of the car and kicked the cyclist and hit him over the head with a plastic jerry can.
“The passenger got back into the car, which drove off towards Arbury Road, Nuneaton.
“Passers by took the cyclist to a nearby house, where the police and relatives were called.”
The “shaken and bruised” cyclist was taken to Nuneaton’s George Eliot Hospital, where it was found that his arm had been broken in the incident.
Warwickshire Police have appealed for witnesses to the incident, or anyone who may be able to help identify the vehicle or its occupants.
Anyone with information is asked to contact DC 1604 Gavin Lambert at Nuneaton Local Investigation on 01926 415000 or 101 ext 3212, or the charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Earlier in July, we reported on a trio of incidents that happened just across the county border in southwest Leicestershire, with the vehicle involved described as “an old silver BMW.”
The locations of those incidents – Croft, Broughton Astley and Earl Shilton – are all within ten miles or so of the latest one in Warwickshire, raising the prospect the same people may be responsible.
In one of the assaults in Leicestershire, cyclist Andy Limb suffered a broken collarbone and coincidentally was treated at the same hospital as the victim of the Nuneaton attack.
Due to the similarities between the four attacks, we have of course alerted Warwickshire Police to the three incidents in Leicestershire.
Add new comment
16 comments
Definitely need more cameras on cyclists, we need to be equipped like all those crazy Russian car cam videos I see on youtube.
There were a spate of similar incidents in Oxfordshire a few years ago. I was pushed off from behind. The problem the police have is the same as I had. In my case it was a generic white van. I didn't get the plate because I couldn't see it. There were 4 other cyclists pushed off on the same stretch of quiet road - not one was able to positively ID anyone or anything, mainly because before you know it, you're over the handlebars wondering what's happened.
The police had their suspicions but without cast iron proof you haven'g got a case. Even helmet cameras aren't any use unless they are pointing backwards (in which case you've got a result).
My own suspicion is that the idiots doing this were travelling casual workers around the home counties.
I live in Leicester, too. The location of the attacks in Warwickshire are certainly close enough to be linked. It would be interesting to know what other similarities link the victims - gender, age, type of bike, time of day, etc. Also, the area in question (in the case of the leics attacks at least) isn't huge, so maybe the police need to consider decoys?
The comparison with Drummer Rigby is valid in that he only mentions that it was an attack by a car, then an assault afterwards when he was defenseless. Obviously the consequences were far less, but the empty-headed twaaat who attacked him will need more and more violence to get the same buzz. It WILL end in a death.
Believe me. I know about these things because I watch television !
No one is currently trying to hack off a cyclists head in an act of terrorism with a religio-political statement for propaganda reasons. The comparison is massively wide of the mark. It lacks respect to what happened to Cpl Rigby and his family to even bring him into this.
What has happened in these cases is awful in its own right, but does not bear the comparison that has been made. Everyone, so far, has gone home to their families, and they have been fortunate (comparative to Cpl Rigby) to still be alive.
helmet cams
I live in Leicester. This is the fourth such attack I know of. The attacks are now getting worse, escalating in there intensity and violence. Very soon cyclists will start arming themselves as more and more attacks and less and less action is being taken by the authorities. Self preservation is key.
What is the F***ing point in the police!
Attempted murder again!
This is akin to what happened to Drummer Rigby- use of a car to knock the victim to the ground so that they can't fight back, then physically assault them. But will it be plastered all of the news in the same manner?
Hopefully someone wearing something like this will bring the perpetrators to justice:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HD-720P-WATERPROOF-MOTOR-BIKE-CYCLE-ACTION-HELMET-SPORT-CAMERA-CAM-DVR-PC-WEBCAM-/170875074990?pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_Video_Camcorders&hash=item27c8f2b9ae
We're all going to need one soon......
Erm, really?! Drummer Rigby?
Please be serious.
I hope that once they catch this idiot they take away his license. It is clear that he should not be allowed on the roads. Chances are he probably has some sort of previous and hopefully that will add up to a custodial sentence. This is not a case where it is either a one-off or random incident so I would imagine the constabulary and judiciary will throw their combined books at the perpetrator.
This (Drummer Rigby) is a shocking comparison to make. Seriously, have a word with yourself.
I'm surprised and concerned they still haven't the found them, it'd be quite easy with road blocks, it's a silver bmw if i remember correctly.
Presumably the Police will be looking to charge this scumbag with GBH then?
Thanks on behalf of all of us for pointing out a possible link to the police... I doubt they would've made the connection by themselves.
I hope the police forces involved are taking this seriously. The actions of the driver and passenger could easily have resulted in a fatality and need to be treated accordingly.