Man who drove at Asians is spared jail

Andrew Eddy, 20, was waiting at the wheel of his red Ford Mondeo when his drunken cousin emerged from a shop saying that he had been in a row with the Asian shopkeeper.

A few minutes after driving away from the shop, in Oxford Road, Thornaby, near Stockton, the cousin spotted the shopkeeper and two friends in nearby Cambridge Road. He jumped from the car, shouting abuse and raising his fist.

One man retaliated by pushing him over, and he picked himself up and got back into the car, said Richard Parsell, prosecuting.

The car was driven along the pavement towards them at speed, striking two of the men. The third leapt on to a wall to escape, Teesside Crown Court was told.

As the car sped off, one man recognised the driver, Eddy, as a former neighbour.

When he was arrested a week later, he said that his cousin was involved in an argument with "the coloured lads". He said he drove at them deliberately, add- ing: "I thought I would scare them."

Stephen Constantine, mitigating, said that Eddy was a vulnerable person exploited by his older cousin, who had been drunk and spoiling for a fight with the men.

A psychiatrist said that Eddy, whose father died when he was six, had a personality disorder which made him highly susceptible to suggestion.

Judge George Moorhouse told Eddy that he would not jail him, because of the exceptional circumstances of the case.

He said: "It is quite clear that, through no fault of your own, you are an extremely vulnerable person, someone who reacts under stress in a way that you would not otherwise do."

Eddy, of Droitwich Avenue, Stockton, was sentenced to 12 months custody, suspended for two years, and two years community rehabilitation. He was also disqualified from driving for two years, and must pass an extended driving test.

He admitted dangerous driving, actual bodily harm assault, common asssault and driving without insurance last June 17.