Bizarre moment raging driver slashes police speed camera van’s tyre

Bizarre moment raging Mercedes driver slashes police speed camera van’s tyre with utility knife

  • Charles Richards, 38, of Brynmawr in South Wales, was traced and arrested

This is the moment a raging Mercedes driver slashed the tyres of a police speed camera van – while his passenger filmed from the front window.

Charles Richards, 38, was caught on camera as he pulled his A-class car to the side of the road in front of the marked speed van.

Richards was then seen calmly holding a tradesman’s knife as his passenger filmed the front seat.

Police said Richards then slashed the front tyre of the van – before returning to his car and driving off.

Officers filmed the slash attack from a camera inside the van and Richards, of Brynmawr, South Wales, was traced and arrested.

Charles Richards, 38, was caught on camera as he pulled his A-class car to the side of the road in front of the marked speed van Charles Richards, 38, was caught on camera as he pulled his A-class car to the side of the road in front of the marked speed van

Charles Richards, 38, was caught on camera as he pulled his A-class car to the side of the road in front of the marked speed van

He then slashes the police van's tyres with a tradesman utility knife before getting back into his car He then slashes the police van's tyres with a tradesman utility knife before getting back into his car

He then slashes the police van’s tyres with a tradesman utility knife before getting back into his car

He was later found guilty of criminal damage at Cardiff Magistrates Court and fined £1,066 and ordered to pay £554 in compensation and costs.

A spokesman for speed camera team GoSafe said: ‘At approximately 4:45pm on Sunday, 9th April 2023, Richards was travelling along the A4106 near Porthcawl, when he pulled in front of a GoSafe van and came to a stop.

‘He exited his car on the dual carriageway and was seen walking towards the van with what appeared to be a yellow utility knife. He slashed the front tyre of the GoSafe van, before promptly returning to his car and driving away.

‘The incident was captured by high quality CCTV installed on the GoSafe vehicle and Mr Richards was identified. On Saturday, 22nd April 2023, the 38-year-old was arrested and charged with causing criminal damage to a police vehicle.

‘Richards appeared in Cardiff Magistrates Court on Thursday, 11th May 2023. He was found guilty and made to pay a £1066 fine, a £426 victim surcharge, £85 court costs and £43 compensation.’

References

  1. ^ Olivia Jones (www.dailymail.co.uk)