Masked road rage men jailed for terrifying attack

David Nuttall (30), of Crumwell Road, Rotherham, and Daniel Kelly (27), of Ralston Grove, Halfway, Sheffield, were sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court on Tuesday for their involvement in the incident.

Motorist Carl Revell, who was driving a BMW, was involved in a collision with a white van being driven by Kelly near the Mushroom roundabout in Dalton on January 24, Miss Hannah Walker, prosecuting, told the court.

Nuttall was a passenger in the van.

Mr Revell pursued the van to obtain the driver’s details and managed to block it off near Aldwarke Lane, which resulted in another collision, the court heard.

“The van was trying to push his car out of the way,” Miss Walker said.

Nuttall and Kelly jumped out of the van wearing face masks.

“There was a confrontation, which was extremely frightening for Mr Revell,” Miss Walker told the court.

Nuttall punched Mr Revell in the face, leaving him with a swollen jaw.

“He then bounced up and down in an aggressive manner as though he was warming up for a fight,” Miss Walker added.

Mr Revell said in a statement that he had feared for his life, kept reliving the incident and thinking about what could have happened to him.

He said the incident also had a financial impact because he had to buy a new car.

Police officers who searched Kelly’s vehicle following the incident found cannabis and a device described by experts as either a stun gun or Taser, Miss Walker told the court.

Nuttall admitted assault by beating at the hearing on Tuesday, while Kelly admitted possession of a weapon designed for discharge of a noxious substance.

Kelly had also pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and cannabis possession at a previous hearing.

Nuttall had 22 criminal convictions for 49 offences and Kelly had 12 convictions for 22 offences.

Mr Dermot Hughes, mitigating for Nuttall, told the court his client had already been on remand for almost six months for an offence which should carry a maximum term of six months.

Mr Ian Goldsack, mitigating for Kelly, told the court his client had not been able to provide for his two young children while being on remand.

Judge Peter Kelson, QC, sentenced Kelly to nine months in prison and Nuttall to three months.

“This was an extremely serious incident of road rage and an innocent man was terrified,” Judge Kelson said.

Addressing Kelly, Judge Kelson said that a stun gun or Taser, in the hands of someone with a record like his, was a serious matter.