Matt Jackson of The News, Portsmouth reported today that a motorist who ran over a clamper in an ‘uncontrollable rage’ has been jailed.

A judge sentenced David Cox to 12 months and banned him from driving for 15 months at Portsmouth Crown Court.

Recorder Jonathon Black jailed Cox yesterday for his attack on clamper Anthony Wearn, after he had refused to pay a £125 release fee.

Cox repeatedly rammed Mr Wearn’s van as he tried to free his red BMW Mini.

As the clamp flew off he drove at the 38-year-old clamper, running him over.

Cox admitted dangerous driving and criminal damage, but denied he’d run over Mr Wearn on purpose.

At the sentencing yesterday the lorry driver from Colbury Grove, Havant, said: There is a reason here for me to seek professional help for the anger I have got.

‘I only drove a matter of inches backwards and forwards.

‘ I didn’t drive drunkenly though I did strike another person.’

Sentencing Cox to a year for the charge of dangerous driving, and a one-month concurrent sentence for criminal damage, Recorder Black said: ‘While Mr Wearn’s occupation may not be to everyone’s liking he was going about his business in a lawful manner.

‘Mr Cox, upon finding his car had been clamped, lost his temper.

‘In my opinion these are not the actions of a person thinking and behaving rationally.

‘It’s clear to me that Mr Cox’s actions were as the result of him being in an uncontrollable rage.

‘I believe he acted on this occasion out of uncontrollable rage and that he was perfectly aware of Mr Wearn in front of his vehicle.

‘I also find that Mr Cox’s reason was not to seek an escape from the car park but to damage Mr Wearn’s van and clamping device in order to teach him a lesson.’

Mr Wearn, who works for Portsmouth based BSG Security, was run over in the Pizza Hut car park in Havant in February last year.

He told the court last month that Cox had been staring straight at him before running him over.

He said: ‘At first it was tremendous pain while the vehicle was on top of me.

‘After that it was just complete and utter shock.’

Suzi says we wish Anthony Wearn our very best wishes and hopes that he has recovered completely from this awful experience.   Anthony did his vehicle immobiliser training with beSmart Training (then known as COI-Freelance Ltd) back in 2007 and though the profession is generally disliked by most people it is a legal and necessary profession in this day and age and we are extremely glad that the judge has recognised this fact.  beSmart Training run regular vehicle immobiliser courses at their London based training centre so if you are interested in becoming a wheel clamper or immobiliser please give us a call.