Dad drives 65 miles to mow bicyclist he accused of ruining his wedding

The moment a man deliberately mowed a cyclist that he "mistakenly believed" was responsible for his loss of access to his children was captured in nauseating images.

A jury heard Mark Whittaker, 45, drive a distance of 65 km, then wait for Darren Fordred to be ambushed and that he was accused of "ruining his marriage".

The drunk and angry father took his victim by surprise when he suddenly broke his car in the cyclist while he was heading to work, smashing the bones of the 38-year-old man in several places.

Whittaker then jumped out of his car and continued his violent ambush: kicking, punching and beating the blood cyclist while he was lying on the floor, helpless.

Whittaker was sentenced yesterday to 21 years in prison for this violent attack, captured under video surveillance.

A jury heard Whittaker see a "red haze" in the early hours of October 12, 2018, and began driving to ambush the man who, according to him, had cost him his life.

When he arrived at Mr. Fordred's house, Whittaker waited until he saw him leave for work by bike.

Whittaker accelerated his car at a speed above 30 mph and hit the vulnerable man on his pedal bike.

Mr. Fordred escaped from the bike during the crash and crashed against the windshield of the Whittaker car, suffering from a double leg fracture.

He was lying on the ground, defenseless, muscles, tendons and bones exposed by his gaping wounds.

Ignoring the terrible injuries he had caused to Mr. Fordred, Whittaker began to punch him and even put his hand around his throat, shouting, "I lost my wife, I'm not sure." I lost my family, I lost everything! "

Whittaker, homeless, had denied any charge of attempted murder, claiming that he had never intended to kill Mr. Fordred.

He was however found guilty by a jury at the end of a five-day trial at Reading Crown Court, after the prosecution had revealed that he had sent threatening SMSs to his victim.

According to the messages, Whittaker would kill Mr. Fordred before leaving Portsmouth to ambush his victim in Reading to conduct the deliberate ambush.

Justice Heather Norton described to Whittaker the seriousness of his actions the day he decided to go to Reading's home.

The judge said, "Your intention was to confront Darren Fordred, that you mistakenly thought you were responsible for losing your access to your family.

"Your intention was from the start to confront him with the use of violence, which is clear from your actions, the threatening texts you sent and where you threatened to kill him.

"You waited until you saw him leave his house on his bike to go to work." By the time he left the house, you followed him, you had the intention of To kill him.

"The jury and I saw on CCTV that, very deliberately and at speeds above 30 km / h, you were crossing the road directly in front of and towards Darren Fordred."

Judge Norton added, "You left your car and you immediately went to Mr. Fordred's home." You continued your attack on him, apparently oblivious to the fact that there were other residents and users from the nearby road who were watching you.

"You have been beaten and hit Mr. Fordred several times and at some point you put his hand around his throat.

This attack was fueled by alcohol, emotions and unrestrained anger during which you shouted, "I'm going to kill you".

When the police arrived, you told them that you intended to kill him. "

The judge described this as a "deliberate and sustained attack" in which Whittaker used his car as a weapon.

The judge noted that before, during and after the attack, Whittaker had spoken of Mr. Fordred's badbadination.

"It may not be surprising that the jury decided that you wanted to kill and that he found you guilty of attempted murder," said Judge Norton.

Attorney Michael Roques told the court that Whittaker had already convicted 18 people for 42 offenses.

During a fire arrests in 2008, Whittaker had poured gasoline into the mailbox of a house where a person with whom he had held a grudge lived and ignited it.

When the police arrested Whittaker, he said, "He stole my kid seven years ago, I want him dead."

It was also revealed that Whittaker was convicted of serious bodily injury in 2007, when he sliced ​​a victim in the face with a Stanley knife and sent threatening texts to a former partner threatening to slit his throat. .

Mr. Roques read a statement from Mr. Fordred's victim.

He said, "I do not know why Mark did what he did but I know how it affected me, I'm stressed, I suffer all the time, I can not walk properly and do simple things without help, it makes me feel old before my time.

"I think Mark is a coward for using his car as a weapon."

Whittaker was sitting on the pontoon, expressionless, wearing a gray sweater and saying nothing while he listened to everything being said about him.

Nicholas Syfret, QC, defending Whittaker, told the jury: "The only sure conclusion that can be drawn as to when there was intent to kill is the sudden moment when the accused saw M Fordred on his bike.

"Then, in the words that he used, a red haze seized him and, during those brief moments, he intended to kill Mr. Fordred." was nothing more than an act of rage. "

Judge Norton stated that a pre-sentencing report concluded that Whittaker has traditionally used violence to seek revenge against those who have wronged her.

There was no conclusive evidence that he had actually been harmed by Mr. Fordred, added the judge.

She sentenced him to 21 years in prison and three more years of license.

After the conviction, Detective Constable Peter Cave, investigating officer, said, "Whittaker's actions tonight will have a lasting impact on Mr. Fordred.

"It was a horrible and totally useless attack in which Whittaker used his vehicle as a weapon, deliberately and deliberately.

"He had ample opportunity to reconsider his actions, but continued his violent attack.

"He knew the dangerous nature of his decision and, after the jury had dismissed his plea of ​​not guilty and found him guilty of attempted murder, Whittaker had repeatedly failed to show remorse for his actions.

DC Cave congratulated the victim for his "courage".

"I hope that the sentence handed down by the court will put an end to Mr. Fordred and his family."