Man thrown in air in Taverham road rage attack

A man was thrown into the air 'like a rag doll' and suffered multiple injuries after he was hit by another car in a 'road rage' attack in Taverham, a court has heard.

Driver Gaynor Myhill, 42, was given a suspended jail term when she appeared for sentencing at Norwich Crown Court yesterday after previously admitting one count of dangerous driving and one of assault.

Nicholas Methold, prosecuting, said the victim's injuries had included a graze to the head, a sprained right wrist and bruising on his right side, including his right thigh.

Mr Methold said on September 4 last year, the male victim had been driving in a car behind Myhill. She had thought he was driving too close to her and so stopped and waved him by.

But he said Myhill then drove too close to the victim's car and when he went to turn into Shakespeare Way, Taverham, she drove into the back of his vehicle.

Mr Methold said Myhill, of The Old Airfield, Foulsham, panicked and reversed away.

He said the victim got out of his car to remonstrate with Myhill and, as he was standing in the road, he was struck by Myhill's vehicle.

A witness statement described the victim being 'thrown up into the air like a rag doll'.

John Farmer, for Myhill, said his client had been in a state of huge personal turmoil at the time of the attack and he said she had been driving at a low speed.

Recorder Christopher Morgan said Myhill had turned what happened into a 'road rage' incident.

He said, mercifully, the victim's injuries were not the most serious, but he said there had been the risk of serious injury to him.

For the dangerous driving charge he gave Myhill a six-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months and he disqualified Myhill from driving for 12 months.

For the assault occasioning actual bodily harm charge, he gave Myhill a nine-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months.

He said both sentences would run concurrently.

He also ordered Myhill to comply with a curfew from 10pm until 6am for 28 days.