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Margam footballer guilty of hitting 11 boys with car | Margam footballer guilty of hitting 11 boys with car |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A footballer has been convicted of using his car as a "one tonne weapon" to "knock down spectators like skittles" after his team lost a match. | A footballer has been convicted of using his car as a "one tonne weapon" to "knock down spectators like skittles" after his team lost a match. |
Lee Taylor drove his BMW into 11 rival supporters, some as young as 14, after his side lost 5-0. | Lee Taylor drove his BMW into 11 rival supporters, some as young as 14, after his side lost 5-0. |
The 36-year-old Margam player "lost his temper" and drove into the victims after a game in Cornelly, Bridgend county, on 19 April 2018. | The 36-year-old Margam player "lost his temper" and drove into the victims after a game in Cornelly, Bridgend county, on 19 April 2018. |
Taylor, from Port Talbot, will be sentenced in April. | Taylor, from Port Talbot, will be sentenced in April. |
A jury found him guilty of dangerous driving and 11 counts of attempting to do grievous bodily harm with intent. | A jury found him guilty of dangerous driving and 11 counts of attempting to do grievous bodily harm with intent. |
He claimed he was trying to escape the teenagers when he got into his car after they called him "fatty". | He claimed he was trying to escape the teenagers when he got into his car after they called him "fatty". |
Taylor claimed he did not know he had hit the boys until the police arrested him later that day. | Taylor claimed he did not know he had hit the boys until the police arrested him later that day. |
He told the court he was trying to break up a confrontation between a Margam teammate and 15 to 20 young supporters of rivals Cornelly United outside the changing rooms when the group turned on him. | He told the court he was trying to break up a confrontation between a Margam teammate and 15 to 20 young supporters of rivals Cornelly United outside the changing rooms when the group turned on him. |
But Christopher Rees, prosecuting, said Taylor "got into his car to drive at the youths because he lost his temper". | But Christopher Rees, prosecuting, said Taylor "got into his car to drive at the youths because he lost his temper". |
Some of the boys were thrown up into the air and it was only by "sheer good fortune" none suffered injuries worse than cuts and bruising, he added. | Some of the boys were thrown up into the air and it was only by "sheer good fortune" none suffered injuries worse than cuts and bruising, he added. |
"It was an attack that was out of all proportion to the playground nonsense that happened beforehand." | "It was an attack that was out of all proportion to the playground nonsense that happened beforehand." |
Newport Crown Court was told he had previous convictions for 24 offences, including criminal damage, taking vehicles without authority, common assault and affray. | |
Judge Daniel Williams said he would consider handing down an extended sentence for the "serious offences" after a report by the probation service. | Judge Daniel Williams said he would consider handing down an extended sentence for the "serious offences" after a report by the probation service. |
After the hearing, Janine Davies, from the CPS, said: "Lee Taylor used his car as a weapon, deliberately driving at the group. | After the hearing, Janine Davies, from the CPS, said: "Lee Taylor used his car as a weapon, deliberately driving at the group. |
"When cars are used as weapons the consequences can be devastating. We wish all those injured in this incident a speedy recovery." | "When cars are used as weapons the consequences can be devastating. We wish all those injured in this incident a speedy recovery." |
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