Helmet camera footage proves crucial in crown court conviction

A MOTORIST who deliberately drove head-on at two cyclists has been found guilty of two counts of dangerous driving and sentenced to two and half years in prison.

Dean Goble, 40, from Siddington, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, targeted the cyclists in two separate incidents in Wiltshire and Gloucestershire.

Swindon Crown Court heard that the incidents happened in 2014; on April 30 on Ashton Road in Ashton Keynes, Wiltshire and on May 7 on an unclassified road between Ewen and Cirencester, Gloucestershire.

Dean Goble was found not guilty of a third incident on an unclassified road between Waterhay and Ashton Keynes on May 8 2014.

Following the first incident, cyclist David Jones took the footage from his helmet mounted camera to the police. The registration plate of Goble's car was identified from the film and he was later arrested.

Mr Jones told jurors: "The whole incident was over in less than two seconds. To tell you the truth it happened so quickly and it was all a bit of a shock.

"I think if I had veered to the right I would have been in collision with the vehicle. The car came directly towards me."

Jeremy Maiden recalled the incident of May 7 on an unclassified road between Ewen and Cirencester.

"I found it very traumatic because for a split second you think the car is going to hit you," he said.

Goble was convicted of two charges of dangerous driving but acquitted of a third following nearly five hours' deliberations.

Giving evidence, Goble admitted he was driving during the incident with Mr Jones but denied he drove dangerously - claiming he was trying to avoid a pothole.

And he insisted his brother was driving the Peugeot during the incidents with Mr Maiden and the third alleged victim Amanda Adams.

"I just didn't want to get my brother into bother. It's not a lie," Goble said.

Goble gave no explanation in court for acting in the way he did and insisted he was a "keen cyclist".

Even his barrister Michael Pulsford described the offending as "bizarre" during his closing speech to the jury.

The court heard that Goble has 20 previous convictions dating back to his teens for handling stolen goods, burglary, violent disorder, criminal damage, affray, dangerous driving and supplying Class A drugs.

Jailing Goble, Judge Tim Mousley QC said: "The jury have convicted you of two offences which involved you deliberately driving your car at speed towards cyclists coming in the opposite direction.

"It is quite apparent to me your intention in driving that way was to frighten them in the extreme and to put each of them in serious fear of injury.

"All it would have taken was a moment of unsteadiness by either or both of these cyclists for you to cause very serious injury.

"The question arises as to why you did it and perhaps the answer is that it is typical of your aggressive and bullying nature which appears to be observed from your previous convictions you have collected over many years.

"This was a deliberate action on your part which was dangerous in the extreme and it was fortunate no one was killed and that must be very much a matter of luck rather than judgment exercised on your part."

Sergeant Barrie Card, from Wiltshire Police, said: "Dean Goble had no respect for the safety of these cyclists; his dangerous and irresponsible actions could have killed one of these innocent people or, at the very least, seriously injured one of them.

"Today's verdict is a welcomed one and sends out the message that Wiltshire Police will catch you if you endanger the lives of other road users and drive like this.

"I think the sentencing sends out a very strong message that a car should not be used as a weapon.

"The defendant drove deliberately at these road users and cyclists are vulnerable.

"I tried putting myself in the position those cyclists must have been in with a car coming straight towards them at 50mph and it must have been extremely frightening.

"There would have been that split-second that you would not have known that car was going to turn away or not or whether you were going to be killed."

Goble has also been disqualified from driving for two years and will have to take an extended re-test when he is released from prison. He also has to pay a £120 surcharge.

• Images taken from the helmet camera footage which clearly show Dean Goble's car swerving at cyclist David Jones