Sales boss ordered to pay £900 after Widnes road rage incident

Sales boss, 49, who punched a motorist in the face ‘after he called his disabled wife a f***ing t***’ in road rage row must pay the victim £100

  • Sales manager Paul Williams, 49 and his wife were at a Widnes recycling centre
  • The couple asked Peter Nugent to move his car so they could access the bins
  • Williams claims Nugent insulted his wife describing her as a ‘f***ing t***’ 
  • He pleaded guilty to assault by beating and ordered to pay £900 in fines/costs 

A company boss who punched a man in the face during a petty road rage row as they dumped household rubbish at a council refuse tip must pay the victim £100.

Sales manager Paul Williams, 49, and his disabled wife got involved in the bizarre fracas with Peter Nugent after they asked him to move his car so they could park up and access waste recycling containers on March 5.

During the row in front of other householders on a Saturday afternoon in Widnes, Cheshire, Williams’ wife was said to have hurled abuse at Mr Nugent while Williams himself claimed the victim told her she was a ‘f***ing t***.’

Sales manager Paul Williams, pictured outside Warrington Magistrates’ Court yesterday, punched Peter Nugent in the face during a row over parking at a council waste recycling centre in Widnes on March 5

It culminated in Williams getting out of the passenger side of his family car shouting ‘Do not speak to wife like that!’ before punching Mr Nugent on the chin and knocking off his glasses.

As the victim was left with bruising and cut to his face, he watched Williams unload his vehicle before being driven off.

At Warrington magistrates court Williams, of Widnes was ordered to pay Mr Nugent £100 compensation after he admitted assault by beating. He was also fined £652 with £150 in costs and a victim surcharge.

He had originally denied the charge and was due to stand trial later in the year.

At Warrington magistrates court Williams, of Widnes, was ordered to pay Mr Nugent £100 compensation after he admitted assault by beating

Laura Simpson, prosecuting, told the hearing: ‘It was 4.30pm on March 5 when the victim Peter Nugent was disposing items at the household waste recycling centre in Widnes.

‘A female driver started shouting abuse at him, telling him to move his car and the victim was then approached by this defendant who was a passenger of the car being driven by the female.

‘The defendant told the victim to move his car then punched him in the chin, causing reddening and a cut. The victim collected his glasses from the floor and watched the defendant unload the vehicle and move off.

‘He had bruising and a cut to his chin which lasted approximately a week.’

Williams had no previous convictions. In mitigation defence lawyer Mark Lever said the victim had been abusive to his client’s wife and that he thought he was going to be hit in the run up to the assault.

Mr Lever said, ‘This was a very unsavoury incident at the Widnes tip back in March. He accepted that he assaulted Mr Nugent. He said that Mr Nugent was aggressive and very rude to his wife who has a disability. He referred to her as a ‘f****** t***’.

‘He went around to say ‘Do not speak to my wife like that’. He thought he was going to be hit but he accepts that he punched him once to the chin. He has never been in trouble before and had never been to court before.

Sentencing Williams JP Stephen Walton told him: ‘You have never been to court before. We hope it is the last time as well’

‘He has a responsible job and this is clearly out of character. He made a split-second decision. He could have taken a step back and avoided a confrontation which unfortunately he did not. He is extremely ashamed and embarrassed to find himself before the court this morning.

‘But I do not think the complainant has covered himself in glory either. He earns approximately £35,000 a year. He is a sales manager.

‘He made a mistake. He is not someone I would expect to see before the court again. He was initially going to defend his case and go to trial but thought about it and realised that he had overreacted and is sorry.’

Sentencing Williams JP Stephen Walton told him: ‘You have never been to court before. We hope it is the last time as well.’

Mr Nugent was not in court to be asked about Williams’ claims against him.

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