Penge road rage attacker jailed after knocking 80-year-old man unconscious in street

A man has been jailed for 16 months for a road rage attack on an 80-year-old great-grandfather who was knocked unconscious in the street.

Paul Eva was crossing a road with his wife when he had a “verbal altercation” with John Dugdale, who got out of his car, ran after the pensioner and pushed him into a brick wall before fleeing the scene.

Police released CCTV footage of the attack in Penge, southeast London, in a bid to catch the driver after Mr Eva suffered serious injuries, including a broken wrist, jaw, nose and cheekbone.

Dugdale, who handed himself in to police a month after the attack in April, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm and was sentenced at Croydon Crown Court on Tuesday.

Judge Elizabeth Lowe told the defendant, 56, he had carried out a “cowardly act” by shoving an elderly man in the back and left the victim with horrific injuries.

“You were obviously intent on violence against him from the moment you left your car,” the judge said.

Dressed in a blue t-shirt, navy blue trousers and wearing an ear ring, Dugdale mouthed “love you” to members of his family in the public gallery after they broke down in tears following the sentence.

The court heard Dugdale, who is unemployed, had a previous conviction for possession of an offensive weapon after he threatened an Asda delivery driver with a rounders bat outside his home in Croydon, south London, in January 2016.

He told police he had “reacted like an idiot” when he attacked Mr Eva, who had sworn after nearly being struck by the car which contained Dugdale’s 16-month-old granddaughter.

Mr Eva, a retired bricklayer, was unconscious for around two minutes after the attack and was covered in blood when he was found by officers and paramedics.

The assault was witnessed by Mr Eva’s wife and a woman walking her dog with her 14-year-old daughter, the court heard.

Speaking outside court, Mr Eva said Dugdale “deserved” to be jailed after treating him with “complete contempt”.

“I just think he’s a p****,” Mr Eva said.

“He wouldn’t even look at me. I don’t think he was apologetic at all. He was just sad he got caught.”

Speaking to Sky News ahead of the hearing, Mr Eva branded his attacker an “idiot” and said his wife Jackie thought he was dead following the incident, which happened on her birthday.

He said he wanted to attend Dugdale’s sentencing as he would otherwise be unable to recognise his attacker if he came across him again in the street.

“When it happened, my most vivid memory was the woman, who was the passenger in the car, glaring at me with pure hatred,” Mr Eva said.

“That’s what stuck in my mind.

“He was driving too fast. I was nearly across the road when he nearly hit me, so he must have seen me.

“My wife was pretty shaken up by the whole experience.”

Asked whether he believed his attacker should be jailed, Mr Eva replied: “That’s not really up to me is it? To me, the guy is just a complete a*******. If he gets that message from me, that’s enough for me.

“If I bumped into him in the street, I wouldn’t recognise him. I’ve got no idea who he is.

“I just want to see who this guy is who thought he could behave in such a bloody manner.

“I just feel he’s a f****** idiot.”

After police released footage of the incident, Detective Constable Luke Thomson said the victim suffered “horrific injuries” from the “nonsensical attack which could have cost him his life”.

“There is no place in society for unlawful and aggressive acts such as this,” Mr Thomson added.

Mr Eva told Sky News he is still “not 100%” as he continues his recovery.

“I broke a bone in my hand which is still quite painful,” he said.

“The plaster has been taken off but I can’t use my hand properly. My teeth ache like anything.

“I was totally unaware he was following me up the road.

“He deliberately pushed me, but whether he intended to give me as many injuries as I got, I don’t know.”

(c) Sky News 2019: Penge road rage attacker jailed after knocking 80-year-old man unconscious in street