Shocking moment ex-Conservative Association chairman is driven at in road rage attack... but police drop case because he SWORE
This is the dramatic moment a businessman was mowed down as he approached a driver who had earlier rammed into his car and then sped off.But Lee Holmes was left even more shocked when he was later told by police that they could not take any action because he was swearing at the driver when he went to remonstrate with him.In video evidence of the incident provided by Mr Holmes, 53, the lettings agency boss – and former chair of the South Tees Conservative Association – can be seen pursuing a red car that had earlier reversed twice into his vehicle as he was driving through Middlesbrough with his partner.As the red car comes to a stop at the corner of a road, Mr Holmes tells his partner who is driving: 'Just block him there,' while still recording on his mobile phone.As he makes his way to the car he yells: 'Yeah, you f***ing c***.'Approaching the vehicle, he screams: 'You f***ing maniac.' An engine can then be heard roaring to life with the red car smashing into Mr Holmes's legs, causing him to crash to the ground and scream out in pain.As the car screeches away with Mr Holmes sprawled on the ground, he yells: 'You f***ing b*stard,' and shouts to his partner: 'Phone the police. Did you see that?'But after providing footage of the incident and the car's registration number to Cleveland Police, Mr Holmes says that he was left incensed after being told weeks later that they were closing the case for a number of reasons. In the footage, Mr Holmes, 53, who runs a residential lettings business and is former chair of the South Tees Conservative Association, can be seen pursuing a red car He then gets out his vehicle and confronts the driver - but is flung into the airOne of them stated: 'The video of the incident also shows the driving of your partner, and your behaviour (shouting and swearing).'Mr Holmes told the Daily Mail: 'Of course I was shouting and swearing, who wouldn't be in that situation. This man had twice rammed into our car and then tried to get away. I obviously wasn't happy about this, and I wanted to ask him why he had behaved like this and get his insurance details.'I'm quite northern and quite sweary but that can't be an excuse for not taking any action against this man. The police have all his details and they've done nothing.'Mr Holmes, who has a degree in criminal law, went on: 'A driver deliberately crashed into us and then tried to run me down. From my understanding, there's a number of things the police could have charged him with. Instead, they've got a problem with me swearing and shouting, which is ridiculous.'He said the incident took place in February and started after the other driver cut up the car he was in and then his partner beeped his horn in anger.He said: 'The next thing we know is that he stops and reverses into us. He then drives off and does it again seconds later. We didn't know how much damage he had caused to our car so obviously we had to go after him to get his details and record his registration number.'After being run down, Mr Holmes was left with a cut on his head and a bruised elbow and hip.He added: 'If I'd landed on my head I could have been seriously injured or even killed and I'm lucky that didn't happen.'Mr Holmes asked for a review of the decision to close the case as he is entitled to under the law, but this was rejected with the police claiming that it did not 'meet the evidential threshold test'. Lee Holmes said that he has now launched a civil action against the insurance company of the other driver and also reiterated calls for the police to reopen their investigation After being run down, Mr Holmes was left with a cut on his head and a bruised elbow and hip (Still from the footage)He added: 'They've got video evidence and pictures of me injured and with damage to my car. I'm a retired tax inspector and former chair of the local Conservative Association who has over the years dealt with a number of government ministers.'I understand the importance of the law and I'm not the kind of person who makes things up. Yes, I was swearing and shouting but surely that's understandable.'Mr Holmes said that he has now launched a civil action against the insurance company of the other driver and also reiterated calls for the police to reopen their investigation.Cleveland Police said in a statement: 'Extensive enquiries were carried out as part of the investigation. A counter allegation was also made which was investigated.'It was deemed there was insufficient evidence to progress and the decision was made to close the case pending any further information.'This decision was reviewed internally and again through the Victims’ Right to Review process, and the decision was upheld. Complaints can be made via the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).'
