Croydon man jailed for 16 months after road rage attack on pensioner

A man has been jailed for 16 months after a pensioner suffered horrific facial injuries when he was pushed over during a row.

John Edward Dugdale, 56, of Wickham Road, Croydon, pleaded guilty via virtual court at Bromley Magistrates’ Court on May 24 to one court on grievous bodily harm.

He was sentenced at Croydon Crown Court on Tuesday to 16 months’ imprisonment.

The court heard that on Sunday, April 21, at approximately 7.50pm, as the victim and his wife were walking home along Parish Lane, Penge, a silver car abruptly stopped as they were crossing the road, almost hitting them.

The driver of the car and the victim then had a verbal altercation, before the suspect pulled over at the side of the road and shoved the man in the back, causing him to collide with a brick wall as he fell.

The fall resulted in multiple injuries and the man appeared covered in blood when attended to by paramedics.

The suspect quickly re-entered his car and drove away from the scene.

The victim was unconscious for around two minutes, and has since stated that he does not remember the assault, just the altercation that happened moments before.

Dugdale handed himself in to a South London police station on Wednesday, May 22. He was charged with grievous bodily harm on Thursday, May 23.

Detective Constable Luke Thomson, investigating, said: “The victim suffered horrific injuries as a result of a completely needless attack that could have almost cost him his life.

“We’re happy to have secured this sentencing and hope it gives the victim some small measure of comfort as he continues to recover from the attack.”