Let-off for villager who forced rider to crash

A bike-hating Sussex villager has pleaded guilty to forcing a rider to crash – by swinging a wooden plank at him.

But he only got 40 hours community service and an order to pay rider Ian Wallis £550 in compensation.

Hugh Gunning of East Ashling, in West Sussex, told Chichester Crown Court he had brandished the plank at rider Ian Wallis because he was fed up with bikes speeding through the village.

Wallis had to duck to miss the 4ft plank, and crashed into a wall, suffering cuts and bruises.

Gunning, 44, pleaded guilty to assault and ABH.

Wallis had applied for £6500 compensation to cover a written-off Suzuki Bandit 1200, two months off work and his wrecked kit.

The judge settled on £550 to cover the cost of Wallis’ lid and jacket, because Gunning claimed he was unable to work, and sentenced him to the minimum amount of community service.

An angry Wallis said: ” It’s a p***s-take to give him the minimum. He got off very lightly. Maybe if I’d broken a couple of legs or been left half-dead I would have got what I was owed. ”