The lorry driver caused more than £100,000 of damage as he deliberately smashed into another HGV
John Parkinson outside Liverpool Crown Court(Image: Liverpool Echo)
A dad-of-three caused more than £100,000 of damage as he deliberately smashed his lorry into another HGV on the East Lancs. John Parkinson repeatedly reversed his vehicle into that of another driver, who had apparently attacked him with a knife, as an extraordinary road rage incident descended into violence in the carriageway.
Despite going on to use his lorry to block all four lanes of traffic and colliding with the car of a nurse who was on her way home from work, he has been spared an immediate prison sentence and allowed to continue driving. He told a court today: “I admit I did go above and beyond, and I’m deeply ashamed of my actions.”
Liverpool Crown Court heard on Monday that Merseyside Police received a number of calls reporting an incident involving two lorries on the East Lancs Road shortly after 8am on April 10 2023. Both Parkinson, of Seabank Road in Wallasey, Wirral, and fellow driver Celio De Scusa were seen to exit their cabs before engaging in a physical altercation.
Dashcam footage from the latter’s vehicle, which was played to the court, showed him undertaking the other HGV before the defendant overtook him once more, after which both men pulled over in the left-hand lane. They were then seen stepping out of their lorries and coming to blows in the road, with De Scusa brandishing an object in his hand.
Both thereafter re-entered their HGVs, with Parkinson subsequently reversing into the other vehicle at speed. The 46-year-old then similarly backed into him for a second time as De Scusa attempted to turn right, out of his path.
Parkinson went on to block all four lanes of traffic on their side of the carriageway in order to prevent the other driver from entering the right-hand lane, thereafter reversing into him for a third time. He subsequently began propelling his lorry backwards towards the HGV for a fourth time, although De Scusa was able to back away and avoid contact before performing a U-turn and driving away into oncoming traffic.
Rebecca Smith, prosecuting, described how “extensive damage” was caused to his lorry, including to the cab, hood, and a side panel, which was written off at a cost of £115,000 after Parkinson reversed into him “with force” on “at least three occasions”. He also caused a further £800 of damage to the car of a nurse who was driving home from work, leaving her “extremely shaken up”.
De Scusa, also aged 46, was previously charged with dangerous driving in connection with the incident, although this count was later dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service. Ms Smith added: “Mr De Scusa indicated that he had taken evasive action because of the fear he was in at the time because of the defendant’s behaviour towards him.”
Under interview, Parkinson told detectives that the other driver had “come at him with what he believed to be a knife” and that he “tried to take action to stop him from doing any other damage”. He went on to claim in a basis of plea, which was accepted by the prosecution, that his wing mirror was knocked off by the other lorry and that he had stopped in order to fix the damage.
However, De Scusa was then alleged to have “run at him with a knife and tried to stab him”, causing an injury to his head and bruising to his chest. Parkinson, who has no previous convictions, also stated that he was thereafter “trying to stop Mr De Scusa from getting away and potentially hurting somebody”.
Eve Salter, defending, told the court: “He has a good driving record. The actions of the victim in the incident did, to some extent, contribute to what happened, although I accept that his behaviour was wholly unacceptable.
“There clearly was an attack of some form at the start of this offending. The defendant is remorseful for his actions. He has had some difficult circumstances in the past, which he is trying to overcome, and he is currently in full-time work.
“Of course, he fully accepts that the way he reacted was wholly unacceptable. It is not something that has happened before, and it is not something he wants to engage in again.
“This is his first offence before the court, and this is an isolated incident, in my submission. References from numerous people show another side to this defendant. He has children who rely on him heavily.”
Parkinson also gave evidence from the witness box as the judge was invited to consider sparing him a ban from the roads due to exceptional circumstances, with such a disqualification likely to result in him losing his employment. Sporting a pair of glasses and with his dark hair tied back in a ponytail, he detailed how he had been driving lorries for eight years after being forced to give up his previous work as a builder, plasterer, and joiner due to ill health.
Currently working for Menzies Distribution and based at Newsprinters in Knowsley, he said of his three children, who are aged 20, 15, and one: “Obviously, with my wife passing away recently, I’m basically the only one that’s going to be able to help fund my son. Monday to Friday, I live in my car at work so I’m not travelling 45 minutes each day. I’ve also got a van that I’ve converted into a home for myself. Apart from that, I stay occasionally at [the one-year-old child’s mum’s home] with the baby.”
Of the incident itself, Parkinson added: “The other driver attacked me with a knife. As you can see in the footage, we did have a scuffle. He attacked me multiple times with the knife. I got back in my cab and I thought, I need to do anything in my power to stop this man. I admit I did go above and beyond, and I’m deeply ashamed of my actions.”
When Ms Salter asked him whether he would “behave like this again”, Parkinson replied, “Never, never”. He also told the court: “Due to my physical ailments, there’s next to nothing out there I could do. Just standing here now is causing me immense pain.
“The medical conditions I have don’t impact my driving. After half an hour of holding a trowel or anything, I get numbness and pins and needles. You’re not gripping onto a steering wheel with the force of power tools or hand tools. I’ve accepted the fact I did go above and beyond, and I’m remorseful for what I did.”
Parkinson admitted to dangerous driving and criminal damage. Appearing in the dock wearing a white short-sleeved shirt and a yellow tie, he nodded as he was handed a 12-month imprisonment suspended for 18 months plus a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 25 days.
He was also told to pay £1,000 in court costs plus a victim surcharge but allowed to keep his licence, which will be endorsed as a result of the conviction. Sentencing, Recorder Michael Armstrong said: “I note that the altercation appears to have started when you say Mr De Scusa knocked the wing mirror off your HGV.
“During that altercation, you say that Mr De Souza came at you with an item that you believed to be a knife. I have seen and considered footage of the incident and the object in Mr De Scusa’s hand. It is easy to see how that object would appear to be a knife in the heat of the moment.
“You returned to your vehicle and put your vehicle in reverse before repeatedly driving into Mr De Scusa’s vehicle. You acted without any real regard for other road users and drove your vehicle in a dangerous way, blocking the entire road.
“There must have been an intention by your actions to cause very serious damage to property, and very high-value damage was caused. You were driving a goods vehicle for commercial purposes, which, in this context, is significant.
“I note that you are of good character, which is obviously a very significant mitigating feature in your favour. You have been categorised as representing a low risk of reoffending, which, having considered all the circumstances of the case, I agree with.
“I note that you have suffered with post-traumatic stress disorder following a serious assault in the past. I note the recent personal tragedy through the loss of your wife, which, although you were no longer her husband, has resulted in the relocation of your son.
“You are both a hard worker and a caring, devoted father. You have strong personal mitigation, and, in my judgement, an immediate custodial sentence would have significant consequences for your children.”