Mercedes driver broke man's leg in sickening racist road-rage attack on Wakefield residential street
A thug who confronted a driver in a road-rage incident hurled racist abuse at him before attacking him and breaking his leg.
Philip Stirling was jailed at Leeds Crown Court this week for the sickening assault on the the Asian man, and for making threats to an ex partner days prior.
It was heard that Stirling, who has a history of violence, was behind the wheel of a black Mercedes on February 25 when he drove along Potter Avenue in the Lupset area of Wakefield.
The narrow road had cars parked on either side, but Stirling tried to squeeze through when a motorist travelling in the opposite direction had right of way.
As a result, the rear bumper of Stirling’s car collided with the rear bumper of the other driver’s car, prosecutor Joel Wootton said.
The victim got out to look at the damage, with 39-year-old Stirling also exiting his car. He approached the man with aggression and called him a “P****”.
He then attacked him, with witnesses saying he punched the man and then shoved him to the floor. The man was unable to get up as passers-by dialled 999.
The man was taken to hospital where it was found he suffered a break to his femur and was forced to undergo surgery to insert pins and plates.
CCTV from the street was later obtained by police which captured the incident. A pubic appeal was issued to trace Stirling in March and he handed himself into the police days later.
He gave a no-comment interview.
Stirling, of Cambridge Street, South Elmsall, later admitted racially-aggravated Section 20 GBH.
He also admitted a charge of making threats to kill, two counts of threatening behaviour, threats to damage property and two of malicious communication, all relating to his ex partner.
It was heard that the couple had been in a brief relationship in 2023, but ended due to his abusive and violent outbursts.
On February 19 of this year, he approached the woman while she was with a friend in Wrenthorpe, was angry and shouting he was going to kill her.
The woman ran off pursued by Stirling on foot, who told her he would burn her house down.
She was able to hide and the police were called, but he rang her the next day, calling her a “s**g” and a “grassing c***”.
Stirling has 15 previous convictions for 24 offences, including ABH, multiple for battery, stalking, criminal damage and breach of restraining order.
He appeared in court over a video link from HMP Leeds where he was being held on remand.
Mitigating, Lydia Carroll said Stirling has not been involved in any incidents while in prison, was working with an alcohol and drugs-counsel service and was helping other prisoners.
She said Stirling was aware he was facing a lengthy jail sentence.
Judge Robin Mairs called him a “repeated and persistent abuser of partners”, and said of the road-rage incident: “It was needless and wanton racially-aggravated violence committed in broad daylight on a public residential street.”
He said that Stirling “hid behind alcohol” and “had no real desire to change”.
He gave him a 72-month sentence and a 10-year restraining order to keep him away from his ex partner.