Road rage driver avoids jail after cyclist left with brain injury

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 27 Oct, 12:08 · Archive

A motorist who attacked a cyclist, leaving him with a fractured skull and brain bleeding, has avoided a jail sentence.

Joseph Hedley attacked cyclist Iain Brown at Cowgate in Edinburgh in 2024 following a road rage incident. Hedley grabbed Mr Brown by the throat and threw him to the ground, then left the scene with his partner. Mr Brown was found unconscious and suffered a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain, requiring emergency hospital treatment.

The attack was captured on mobile phone footage posted on social media. Hedley, 39, from Kirkcaldy, Fife, handed himself in to police and pleaded guilty to assault to severe injury, permanent impairment and to the danger of life. His solicitor told Edinburgh Sheriff Court that Hedley did not intend to inflict the injuries Mr Brown suffered and has not driven since the incident. The solicitor also stated that a passenger in Hedley's vehicle had suffered a seizure, prompting Hedley to confront Mr Brown.

Sheriff Fergus Thomson said Hedley had inflicted 'significant injuries' but 'by the narrowest of margins' was willing to impose an alternative to a custodial sentence rather than jail.

How it is being reported

• Man who fractured cyclist's skull in road rage attack given supervision orderVideo footage showing Joseph Hedley throwing the cyclist to the ground in Edinburgh's Cowgate was shared widely online.BBC Edinburgh East And Fife · 27 Oct, 12:41
• Edinburgh road rage driver who left cyclist with serious brain injury dodges jailJoseph Hedley grabbed victim Iain Brown by the throat and violently threw him to the groundEdinburgh Live · 27 Oct, 11:39

In this story: Joseph Hedley · Iain Brown · Edinburgh · Cowgate · Kirkcaldy

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem