Driver who fled scene after violent attack on cyclist in Edinburgh avoids prison sentence
Motorist avoids prison 'by narrowest of margins' after horrific attack on cyclist
A motorist who left a cyclist with a serious brain injury following a road rage attack in Edinburgh has avoided a jail sentence.
Joseph Hedley grabbed victim Iain Brown by the throat and violently threw him to the ground when the pair clashed in the Cowgate in 2024.
Hedley, 39, and his partner then got back into his car and fled the area leaving the stricken cyclist lying unconscious in the middle of the road.
Edinburgh Sheriff Court was told Mr Brown suffered a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain and was rushed to hospital for emergency treatment following the attack.
The incident was captured on mobile phone footage and posted on social media and the motorist later handed himself in to police following a public appeal to trace him.
Hedley, from Kirkcaldy, Fife, appeared for sentencing at the city’s sheriff court on Tuesday after previously pleading guilty to assault to severe injury, permanent impairment and to the danger of life.
Solicitor Calum Turner, defending, told the court his client “did not intend to inflict the injuries Mr Brown suffered” and has not driven a vehicle since the incident.
The lawyer said the attack took place after the cyclist had shouted abuse at the driver and his passengers and had shone a bicycle safety light into his car.
Mr Turner said a passenger in the vehicle had suffered a seizure leading to Hedley to leave his vehicle and confront Mr Brown.
Sheriff Fergus Thomson said the motorist had inflicted “significant injuries” to the cyclist but “by the narrowest of margins” he was willing to impose an alternative to a custodial sentence.
Hedley was placed on a two year supervision order and will be tagged and have to stay within his home address between 7pm and 7am for the next 12 months.
Following the sentencing, Faith Currie, Procurator Fiscal for Edinburgh, Lothian and Borders, said: “This was a violent, sustained and unprovoked assault on an innocent member of the public who suffered serious injuries.
“The actions of Joseph Hedley were horrific and shocking and could easily have had more devastating consequences.
“But he has now been brought fully to account for his crimes.
“As prosecutors, we wholly condemn road rage incidents of this nature which put the public at unnecessary risk from violent offenders like Joseph Hedley.
“We will always prosecute such matters where there is a sufficiency of evidence to do so.”
Previously fiscal depute Peter Finnon played the sickening footage the attack on the cyclist to the court that took place at around 6.20pm on Friday, September 20, 2024.
Mr Finnon said: “Mr Brown was cycling from the Cowgate and there was an altercation with the driver of a vehicle, that driver was Mr Hedley.
“Mr Hedley’s partner exited the vehicle and there were words exchanged between the partner and Mr Brown.”
He added: “Mr Brown was on the road there and the police and ambulance services were contacted.
“First aid was applied to Mr Brown and he had lost consciousness for a short time and was taken to the royal infirmary.
“Mr Hedley left [the scene] and attended at a police station on September 22 around 10pm after he found out police were looking for him.”
The court heard Mr Brown suffered serious injuries including a traumatic brain injury, a fractured skull and an acute bleed on the brain.
The fiscal said medics who treated the cyclist at the hospital had deemed his injuries to be “very much to the potential of danger to Mr Brown’s life”.