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Road rage BMW driver from Ashford ran over Renault driver’s toes and turned him ‘like a rolling pin’ after he refused to give way

An irate mum ran over a driver’s toes and “turned him like a rolling pin” between their two vehicles after a row over who should give way.

A court heard Sarah Potter and Allan Margerison became involved in a stand-off after meeting head-on along a residential road in Ashford.

Sarah Potter was involved in a road rage incident in Ashford
Sarah Potter was involved in a road rage incident in Ashford

Insisting it was her right of way, the BMW driver crossed her arms, turned the ignition off and shouted, “I can do this all day”. Mr Margerison said he could too and got out to smoke a cigarette.

Potter then mounted the pavement in an attempt to squeeze past his car, clipped the driver with her wing mirror, squashed him against the vehicle, ran over his feet and left the scene.

Mr Margerison has been left without feeling in his toes and walks with a limp as he is in constant pain.

Potter, who works for National Rail’s prosecution department, was later arrested and charged over the incident in Hunter Road on June 6 last year.

She denied driving without due care and attention and common assault but was found guilty of both after a trial in September.

The incident happened in Hunter Road, Willesborough, Ashford. Picture: Google
The incident happened in Hunter Road, Willesborough, Ashford. Picture: Google

The 50-year-old, of Evans Road in Willesborough, Ashford, returned to Medway Magistrates’ Court on Thursday to be sentenced - and was allowed to keep her driving licence despite the road rage incident.

The court heard Mr Margersion had been driving his son to a fishing trip which had to be cancelled due to his injuries.

Lucy Fish, prosecuting, said: “He pulled out to pass some (parked) vehicles and met her vehicle at an impasse and she shouted that it was her right of way.

“She then folded her arms and turned off the ignition and said, ‘I can do this all day’, and Mr Margerison said he could too and got out of his vehicle to have a cigarette.

“Witnesses said she was particularly angry. She started her car, mounted the pavement and struck him on the left arm with her wing mirror.

Sarah Potter has been off sick since the incident and a court heard she has been left traumatised by what happened that day
Sarah Potter has been off sick since the incident and a court heard she has been left traumatised by what happened that day

“Mr Margerison was then turned like a rolling pin between the two vehicles and his feet were run over.

“He fell to the floor and she drove off. We (the CPS) say the car was used as a weapon, her driving was careless and there was high aggression to the nature of her driving.”

Magistrates were also told Mr Margerison, who also works on the railways, had to have time off work because of his injuries.

His victim impact statement also revealed his day-to-day life had been impacted as he had been left with no sense of feeling in his toes.

He also had an ongoing condition with his knee which had been made worse since the incident and the pain often kept him awake at night.

This has been sad and traumatic for both parties…

Nathan Fitzpatrick, defending, told magistrates that during the trial when Mr Margerison gave evidence about his degenerative knee condition, he could not differentiate if the incident had made it worse.

He said Potter is married with two sons, is of good character and has one previous conviction from 1999.

She has been signed off sick from work with anxiety and depression since the confrontation.

He added: “This has been sad and traumatic for both parties. In her pre-sentencing report, the author mentions how she’s been traumatised by this incident and I would ask you to take that into account.”

The court heard Potter had at the time been caring for elderly family members including her father-in-law, who has since died as a result of terminal prostate cancer.

Sarah Potter was sentenced at Medway Magistrates' Court
Sarah Potter was sentenced at Medway Magistrates' Court

Mr Fitzpatrick added: “It was a stand-off and he was a larger gentleman.

“It was stressful and she had anxiety and was fearful. She mounted the kerb to end it.

“There was no intent to harm and there was no reckless driving up to that point.

“She acted out of fear but reacted badly. She tried to manoeuvre away but there was not enough space.”

He said there was no intention to use the car as a weapon, adding: “It was reckless behaviour that resulted in the injury.”

The bench was told Mr Margerison was making a civil claim for compensation via the Motor Insurers' Bureau which was still ongoing.

Magistrates placed Potter on a 12-month community order which will see her complete 120 hours of unpaid work and endorsed her licence with eight points.

She was also ordered to pay £650 court costs and a victim surcharge of £114. She will pay what she owes the court at a rate of £50 a month.

The chairman of the bench said: “Be careful now you have eight points on your licence.”

Speaking to KentOnline after the hearing, Mr Margerison said he was surprised Potter had been allowed to keep her licence.

“I travel over the location many times a day and often think how the incident could have been a lot worse,” he said.

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