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| Film agent cleared of dangerous driving after incident with cycling activist | |
| (5 days later) | |
| Paul Lyon-Maris was cleared of dangerous driving and assault | Paul Lyon-Maris was cleared of dangerous driving and assault |
| A theatrical agent who drove for 65ft (20m) with a cycling activist on the bonnet of his car has been cleared of assault and dangerous driving. | A theatrical agent who drove for 65ft (20m) with a cycling activist on the bonnet of his car has been cleared of assault and dangerous driving. |
| Paul Lyon-Maris, who has represented actors including Colin Firth and Sir Ian McKellen, told a jury the YouTuber Michael Van Erp "jumped" on his car. | Paul Lyon-Maris, who has represented actors including Colin Firth and Sir Ian McKellen, told a jury the YouTuber Michael Van Erp "jumped" on his car. |
| Mr Van Erp tried to stop Mr Lyon-Maris driving on the wrong side of the road. | Mr Van Erp tried to stop Mr Lyon-Maris driving on the wrong side of the road. |
| The agent had pulled out of a queue near Regent's Park in central London because he was running late. | The agent had pulled out of a queue near Regent's Park in central London because he was running late. |
| Prosecution lawyer James Dean told Southwark Crown Court that Mr Lyon-Maris, 60, used his Range Rover "as a weapon" in an act of "road rage" during rush hour in September 2021. | Prosecution lawyer James Dean told Southwark Crown Court that Mr Lyon-Maris, 60, used his Range Rover "as a weapon" in an act of "road rage" during rush hour in September 2021. |
| Mr Van Erp - who is known for catching motorists, including ex-boxer Chris Eubank and film director Guy Ritchie, breaking road laws - filmed the incident using a head camera and a selfie stick. | Mr Van Erp - who is known for catching motorists, including ex-boxer Chris Eubank and film director Guy Ritchie, breaking road laws - filmed the incident using a head camera and a selfie stick. |
| Mike Van Erp filmed the incident | Mike Van Erp filmed the incident |
| The 50-year-old road safety activist, told jurors Mr Lyon-Maris drove at him and he fell on to the vehicle "like a crash test dummy". | The 50-year-old road safety activist, told jurors Mr Lyon-Maris drove at him and he fell on to the vehicle "like a crash test dummy". |
| But the jury acquitted Mr Lyon-Maris, from Belsize Park in north-west London, of dangerous driving and common assault. | But the jury acquitted Mr Lyon-Maris, from Belsize Park in north-west London, of dangerous driving and common assault. |
| He had previously pleaded guilty to a traffic offence for ignoring a "keep left" sign to make a right turn and was fined at the magistrates' court. | He had previously pleaded guilty to a traffic offence for ignoring a "keep left" sign to make a right turn and was fined at the magistrates' court. |
| The judge, Recorder Jonathan Bellamy, said: "I wish Mr Lyon-Maris luck in his profession and elsewhere." | The judge, Recorder Jonathan Bellamy, said: "I wish Mr Lyon-Maris luck in his profession and elsewhere." |
| 'Surprised and a little intimidated' | 'Surprised and a little intimidated' |
| Mr Van Erp, who works as a carer, told how he gained "notoriety" after broadcaster Jeremy Vine retweeted one of his videos of him on the bonnet of a silver Mercedes on the same stretch of road. | Mr Van Erp, who works as a carer, told how he gained "notoriety" after broadcaster Jeremy Vine retweeted one of his videos of him on the bonnet of a silver Mercedes on the same stretch of road. |
| He claims to have been responsible for hundreds of prosecutions against motorists. | He claims to have been responsible for hundreds of prosecutions against motorists. |
| He told the jury he accepted stepping out in front of vehicles was "risky" but added: "I look at it in the same way as taking the keys off a drink-driver - I want to stop the immediate harm." | He told the jury he accepted stepping out in front of vehicles was "risky" but added: "I look at it in the same way as taking the keys off a drink-driver - I want to stop the immediate harm." |
| Giving evidence, Mr Lyon-Maris said he did not know who Mr Van Erp was or what he was doing when he stepped out in front of him, telling jurors: "I did not move forward. He jumped on to the bonnet, moved back and jumped on again." | Giving evidence, Mr Lyon-Maris said he did not know who Mr Van Erp was or what he was doing when he stepped out in front of him, telling jurors: "I did not move forward. He jumped on to the bonnet, moved back and jumped on again." |
| He said he was "surprised and a little intimidated" during the incident and insisted: "I'm not a person who becomes enraged." | He said he was "surprised and a little intimidated" during the incident and insisted: "I'm not a person who becomes enraged." |