A 27-year-old window cleaner has been convicted of dangerous driving following an incident at a Chelmsford roundabout.

Steven French, of Baddow Hall Crescent, Great Baddow, denied but was found guilty of the charge after a two day trial at Chelmsford Crown Court last week.

French admitted other charges of driving uninsured and failing to report an accident. He was disqualified from driving for 12 months and ordered to pay £200 prosecution costs.

The jury cleared French of another charge of common assault on Elaine Burton.

Prabhjot Virdi, prosecuting, said at 8.15am on November 28th last year Mrs Burton was driving to work in her Ford Fiesta.

As she stopped at the Parkway Roundabout a Nissan Sunny driven by French screeched to a halt beside her. Mrs Burton waited for a gap in the traffic and drove onto the roundabout.

Seconds later she heard a screech and felt a bang at the rear of her car. French had driven into the back of her vehicle.

Mrs Burton pulled over to the side and saw there was some damage to her car.

She asked French for his insurance details and he replied: "I can't see I've done any damage. I don't have to give you my details."

French got back in his car and Mrs Burton stood in front of the vehicle to take down the registration number, it was alleged.

French then drove forward hitting Mrs Burton around the knees and forcing her backwards into the road, it was claimed.

She moved out of the way and he drove off.

In a police interview French accepted he was uninsured. He said as he was driving off Mrs Burton started to walk in front of his car but he did not hit her.

Jennifer Barker, mitigating, said French was very sorry for what happened and he had lost his temper to a degree. He believed his driving had been careless rather than dangerous.

Published Friday, June 13, 2003

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