A man who punched a driving instructor in a ‘road rage incident’ is set to stand trial after he claimed his actions were in self-defence.
30-year-old Che Lee-Cummins appeared at Swindon Magistrates’ Court today (Wednesday) charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm – a crime he denies committing.
Prosecutor Pauline Lambert said that the defendant approached the driving instructor who sitting in the passenger seat of his car with a teenage student in Corsham on 4 December 2022.
It’s alleged he proceeded to punch the man in the face, causing him to lose part of a tooth. It’s claimed the complainant was still inside his vehicle at the time.
But Moses Uzodima-Tawo, defending, said his client was acting in self-defence because he felt threatened and inflicted one “preemptive strike”. He added that Lee-Cummins viewed the instructor as “aggressive” and “believed he was about to be attacked”.
Mr Uzodima-Tawo said he also denies damaging his tooth – stating that he punched him in the nose, not the mouth.
A trial date will be set on 28 June, when a case management hearing is due to be held.
District Judge Joanna Dickens told the defendant: “You need to keep in touch with your solicitor. This is an incredibly serious charge and is going to have an effect on your future, whatever the outcome.”
