Man jailed for car-door attack on cyclists
A car passenger who attacked a group of cyclists for fun was yesterday sentenced to 15 months’ jail. The Tasmanian Supreme Court was told Stephen Leonard Campbell, 43, was travelling a car driven by his learner-driver son when they approached five professional cyclists on Hobart’s East Derwent Highway in March last year. “As the car overtook the cyclists, the passenger opened his door, deliberately striking the third cyclist with it, Justice Alan Blow said. “The second cyclist lost his balance but was able to stop.
The third cyclist fell, causing the fourth and fifth riders to tumble. All suffered injuries. Campbell, who was seen laughing, was disqualified from driving for five years.
Interestingly, the Mercury (Hobart newspaper) reports that he had been drinking, but makes no mention of the driver being his son on L-plates.
