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| 'Irritated' man drove at hunters | |
| (about 19 hours later) | |
| A man of 82 who accelerated his car into a hunt gathering has been given a three-year driving ban and a £400 fine. | |
| Robert Wilson, from Llandovery, Carmarthenshire, revved his engine and accelerated down a narrow village lane where three hunts were meeting in 2006. | |
| He had previously admitted a charge of dangerous driving and another of failing to stop after an accident. | |
| The Swansea Crown Court judge said his driving arose out of an "unfounded irritation" with hunt members. | The Swansea Crown Court judge said his driving arose out of an "unfounded irritation" with hunt members. |
| The pensioner, who is almost completely deaf and suffers chronic breathing difficulties, appeared for sentencing on Friday. | The pensioner, who is almost completely deaf and suffers chronic breathing difficulties, appeared for sentencing on Friday. |
| Frank Phillips, prosecuting, said the incident had happened in November last year in the village of Cilycwm in Carmarthenshire. | Frank Phillips, prosecuting, said the incident had happened in November last year in the village of Cilycwm in Carmarthenshire. |
| His deteriorating health would have made his driving in the future a questionable activity anyway Patrick Griffiths, defending | His deteriorating health would have made his driving in the future a questionable activity anyway Patrick Griffiths, defending |
| "There were 40 horses and children spread along the street. It was a busy morning," Mr Phillips said. | "There were 40 horses and children spread along the street. It was a busy morning," Mr Phillips said. |
| "It is clear it is a narrow street with cars and trailers parked along both sides of the road." | "It is clear it is a narrow street with cars and trailers parked along both sides of the road." |
| He said Wilson was driving a silver Volvo along the lane and "appeared to be forcing its way through the crowd revving the engine and appeared to be approaching close to several people". | |
| Mr Phillips said that Edward Keer, who was part of the hunt, felt he was driving towards him "showing no respect to people or horses". | Mr Phillips said that Edward Keer, who was part of the hunt, felt he was driving towards him "showing no respect to people or horses". |
| As a result he decided to act by standing in the road to stop Wilson in his tracks. | As a result he decided to act by standing in the road to stop Wilson in his tracks. |
| Hunt saboteurs | Hunt saboteurs |
| "He stood in the road to stop the car in the interests of public safety. His wife was also on a horse," Mr Phillips said. | "He stood in the road to stop the car in the interests of public safety. His wife was also on a horse," Mr Phillips said. |
| "But he realised that the vehicle was not going to stop." | "But he realised that the vehicle was not going to stop." |
| He said that Mr Keer was forced to dive for cover as the car accelerated and sped on without stopping. | He said that Mr Keer was forced to dive for cover as the car accelerated and sped on without stopping. |
| The court heard somebody who recognised Wilson later phoned him at home and warned he was going to report him to the police. | The court heard somebody who recognised Wilson later phoned him at home and warned he was going to report him to the police. |
| "The defendant then threatened him with hunt saboteurs," Mr Phillips said. | "The defendant then threatened him with hunt saboteurs," Mr Phillips said. |
| Wilson went to Carmarthen police station on 11 December, 2006 where he was arrested. | Wilson went to Carmarthen police station on 11 December, 2006 where he was arrested. |
| Considerable punishment | Considerable punishment |
| Patrick Griffiths, defending, said Wilson had already been given an interim driving ban and understood the effect it would have. | Patrick Griffiths, defending, said Wilson had already been given an interim driving ban and understood the effect it would have. |
| "His deteriorating health would have made his driving in the future a questionable activity anyway. | "His deteriorating health would have made his driving in the future a questionable activity anyway. |
| "But the order of a disqualification in itself will be a very considerable punishment," Mr Griffiths. | "But the order of a disqualification in itself will be a very considerable punishment," Mr Griffiths. |
| Passing sentence, Judge Christopher Morton said: "Your manner of driving was dangerous and arose out of a wholly unfounded irritation with members of the hunt and people in the road. | Passing sentence, Judge Christopher Morton said: "Your manner of driving was dangerous and arose out of a wholly unfounded irritation with members of the hunt and people in the road. |
| "The public interest does not require a prison sentence, though you drove at a person. But I have road safety very much in mind. | "The public interest does not require a prison sentence, though you drove at a person. But I have road safety very much in mind. |
| "The appropriate sentence in my mind is a £400 fine plus a ban from driving for three years. | "The appropriate sentence in my mind is a £400 fine plus a ban from driving for three years. |
| "I bear in mind that this is probably a lifetime ban because of your health." | "I bear in mind that this is probably a lifetime ban because of your health." |