Woman found Guilty of Rage Rage Attack on Jeremy Vine
Warning: video contains a lot of swearing
A 22 year-old woman has been found guilty over a road rage incident filmed by BBC presenter Jeremy Vine.
Shanique Syrena Pearson was found guilty at Hammersmith magistrates court of using threatening or abusive behaviour and driving without reasonable consideration over a confrontation with Vine that took place on 26 August last year.
Pearson, 22 of Orsett Street in Lambeth was convicted of a Section 4 Public Order Act offence, namely causing fear or provocation of violence and inconsiderate driving contrary to Road Traffic Act 1988 at Hammersmith Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, 1 February.
The Crimewatch and Radio 2 presenter posted video online of a 'scary' confrontation with Pearson that took place in Kensington, west London, as he was cycling home.
The video, which was viewed more than 15m times on Facebook, was captured on Vine’s bike-mounted cameras.
It was shown to the magistrates court during the hearing last month. Vine, appearing as a witness, told the court he had been scared Pearson would assault him.
District judge Timothy King said he found Vine to be "a credible, truthful and believable witness".
In the video, which was shown in court last month, Vine stops his bike after Pearson, who is driving behind him, revved her engine and beeped her horn. She shouts at him, and while Vine explains the Highway Code and says he needed to be riding in the centre of the road, she gets out of the car and moves towards him, saying: "This is what gets cyclists killed, why the fuck would you stop in front of my car. You don’t respect your life?"
She tries to move Vine and his bike, grabbing the handlebars and using her feet to get him out of the way. She can be heard adding: “I could have hit you and been done for murder."
There is a further confrontation moments later when Vine attempts to photograph her car and she again gets out of her car, saying: "Take a picture of my car again and I’ll knock you out."
Vine alleged Pearson made a gun gesture with her fingers before driving off.
Her lawyer James O’Keeffe said during the trial that Vine was "racially stereotyping" Pearson with the gun gesture claim. He added that the confrontation was a "complete misunderstanding", with Pearson angry about Vine braking suddenly in front of her and Vine attempting to explain why he was cycling in the middle of the road, and that Vine had exaggerated the incident to boost his profile.
However the judge told Pearson in his verdict that Vine "did nothing wrong with stopping in the way he did or where he did ... I do not consider that you were entitled to try and move him out of the way."
He added: "I also have no doubt that Mr Vine felt immediately threatened… [and] no hesitation in accepting that you made a gun gesture."
Pearson was nine months into a suspended sentence for theft, assault causing actual bodily harm, and resisting arrest at the time of the altercation. The judge commited her case to Isleworth crown court for sentencing.
Detective Inspector Driss Hayoukane, from Notting Hill CID, said: "Road rage incidents like this are completely unacceptable. Threatening anyone with violence is unacceptable and a criminal offence. I hope this conviction serves as a warning and important reminder that all road users should be respected and those that make violent threats will be found and brought before the courts."
On his Twitter feed @theJeremyVine the broadcaster said: " I am extremely grateful to the police, especially Fiona Ross of the Met, and the CPS for bringing this case."
Pearson will be sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on a date to be confirmed.
February 2, 2017
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