A road rage driver was jailed for 14 years today after being convicted of killing a pedestrian who stepped out in front of his car before bragging of dishing out "street justice".
Jake McIntyre attacked Andrew Peart after they clashed in what began as a minor altercation in Guide Post, Northumberland. The 28-year-old, of Stakeford Crescent, Stakeford, Ashington was convicted of manslaughter in May after being cleared of murder by jurors at Newcastle Crown Court.
Today he was sentenced at the same court.
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Tragic CCTV shows injured man after he was assaulted by a road rage driver
CCTV footage has captured Andrew Peart in the moments after he was assaulted by a road rage driver in Northumberland.
Andrew, 39, died days after he was attacked with a metal tyre lever following an argument with Jake McIntyre in August last year. Today, McIntyre, 29, was jailed for 14 years at Newcastle Crown Court after being convicted of manslaughter.
The court heard how the men had become involved in an altercation at The Square in Guide Post before McIntyre, 29, left the area in a silver Mitsubishi Shogun. But McIntyre then caught up to Andrew near Guide Post Working Men's Club, where got out the vehicle and struck Andrew with the metal object he had in his car.
He then punched Andrew, leaving him on the floor as he left the scene. And he went on to brag about the incident on social media, branding it 'street justice'.
Footage released by Northumbria Police following the sentencing shows Andrew walking through Guide Post with a hand on his head after being assaulted. He is later captured on CCTV attending a petrol garage, where the injury to the side of his head can be seen.
McIntyre is jailed for 14 years
The judge adds: “The violence was premeditated. However, the planning spanned minutes, rather than hours or days. You would not be calmed and were not prepared to accept his apology.”
McIntyre has been jailed for 14 years.
Andrew was taken to hospital the following day
The following day he was taken to hospital but tragically died of a blunt force head injury around 12.30am on August 30.
Andrew was said to have ignored advice to go to hospital and went to seek McIntyre out whilst armed with a knife
After the attack, McIntyre swapped his car and fled to the Lake District. Andrew was said to have ignored advice from friends to go to hospital and instead went to seek McIntyre out whilst armed with a knife.
But Andrew’s condition was deteriorating and had sustained a fractured skull in the attack, as well as a ruptured artery. He then began to suffer increasing pain and was “clearly in need of medical attention”.
The Judge says the attack was 'vicious and cowardly'
The court hears that McIntyre hit Andrew in the head with the metal implement, before delivering another forceful blow to his leg. He also punched him in the face and kicked him while he was on the floor in front of witnesses.
The Judge says that Andrew was not armed at the time and had attempted to apologise to McIntyre - who was a “regular gym goer” that had amateur boxing and cage fighting experience.
The Judge says the attack was “vicious and cowardly”.
McIntyre bragged about the attack on social media, saying Andrew was in need of 'street justice'
The judge says that McIntyre has previous convictions for “drug trafficking offences” and that he was “not prepared to let matters rest there”. “You decided he needed to be taught a lesson”, the judge adds.
Following the attack, McIntyre bragged about it on social media and branded Andrew a “crack head” who was in need of “street justice”.
The court hears that McIntyre asked two witnesses where Andrew was before attacking him using a 'cylindrical metal implement'
McIntyre then drove around, double backed on himself and asked two witnesses where Andrew was. When he found him, he unleashed an attack on Andrew using a "cylindrical metal implement".
The court is told McIntyre began shouting at Andrew, telling him 'do you know who I am?'
The judge says: “Mr Peart was intoxicated at the time and was shouting at you and challenging you to fight. He reinforced that by taking his top off and raising his hands.You took up that challenge.”
The court is told McIntyre then began shouting at Andrew, telling him “do you know who I am?”.
He then drove away from the scene but ws “incensed by what happened”, so again went searching for Andrew.
The court hears that 'matters escalated' when McIntyre drove by Andrew so closely, he believed he deliberately tried to run him over
The Recorder of Newcastle says Andrew was crossing the road in Guide Post, Northumberland whilst speaking on the phone to a friend. “There is no doubt he was distracted”.
As Andrew crossed the road, McIntyre “hit his horn” and “passed him in very close proximity”. McIntyre drove by him so closely, Andrew believed he deliberately tried to run him over. It was then that “matters escalated”.
John Elvidge KC, defending said the incident was 'out of character' for McIntyre
John Elvidge KC, defending is now addressing the court, saying the incident was “out of character” for McIntyre and that it is a “tragic case”.
He says: “He is a family man, he has no previous convictions for violent offending and no history of him being involved in unlawful violence.There is no suggestion that in the past he’s had any difficulties in controlling his temper or managing anger.”
He says McIntyre is “remorseful of his actions”.
McIntyre will now be sentenced.
'I've lost my soulmate, and my hopes and dreams for the future are crushed'
She says living at home without Andrew is “difficult” and that she struggles trying to manage the home. “I’ve lost my soulmate, and my hopes and dreams for the future are crushed. I truly loved him and I know he loved me…I feel a huge void without him by my side…”
The court hears a statement by Andrew's partner
The third victim statement will be read out by Mr Lamb KC. It is from Andrew’s partner. She says he was “hardworking and dedicated” and that he was a “huge family man”.
Andrew's mum tells the court that it is 'devastating' that she will no longer be able to hug her son
The next statement will be from Andrew’s mother, Christine.
She says he held a professional job and loved nothing more than visiting clients. She says it is “devastating” that she will no longer be able to hug her son. She says she will cherish memories of a previous holiday with Andrew.
She says following his death, the family have been “living a nightmare” and that their lives have been changed completely.
She says that the family can only hope he was not in too much pain when he passed away, and not knowing will “haunt” the family forever.
'If you needed him he would be there in a heartbeat', Andrew's sister told the court
“He could be unpredictable and make bad decisions…he was also kind and caring, a good person. If you needed him he would be there in a heartbeat.
“I found it difficult to come to terms with the sheer pointlessness of his death.
“He was in a new relationship and looking forward to a fresh start. When he died our lives changed forever.”
Lyndsey tells the court: “Andrew didn’t deserve what happened to him”
She tells the court McIntyre could have been “honest” rather than “repeatedly lying” to attempt to “justify his actions”.
“He has shown no remorse, quite the opposite.I choose to believe he is sorry for killing my brother and robbing us of a future with him.”
Victim statements to be heard during today's sentencing
The sentencing is now underway. The court is told by prosecutor David Lamb KC that there are victim statements to be heard.
Andrew's sister, Lyndsey Porter will read out her victim statement to the court first.
