Pensioner David Watson tried to run his son down three times while facing a suspended sentence and restraining order for threatening to kill him by ‘digging a hole and putting him in it’
A pensioner who “always thinks he’s right” and “won’t take no for an answer” tried to run his own son down three times in a terrifying attack, a court has heard.
David Watson, 80, circled his son who had got out of his car and attempted to hit him with it, CCTV played at Derby Crown Court showed. On one occasion the pensioner managed to strike the victim, who was fortunately not badly injured, before driving off, the court was told.
At the time of the incident, Watson was the subject of both a suspended sentence and restraining order for threatening to kill his son by “digging a hole and putting him in it.” Jailing Watson for 18 months, Judge Martin Hurst said: “It is very disappointing to sentence a man of 80 whose close friends speak so highly of him. But you are someone who won’t take no for an answer, you think you are always right.
READ MORE: Dad who ran over own toddler says ‘I shouldn’t have to do this…it’s not f***ing fair’
“You blame your wife and son but when it comes to court they are the ones people believe and you are the liar. You tried to run your son over three times so it is you that is wrong, get that into your head.”
The judge added: “This was a chance encounter but when you spotted your car you started tailgating him, running alongside him, braking in front of him and then trying to squash him and when he got out of his car he ended up being struck by your car. You just don’t like him taking her (his wife’s) side, you can’t stand it and you are not going to listen to young people because in your mind, you know best.”
Teresa Simms, prosecuting, said the incident took place in Birkinstyle Lane, Stonebroom, Alfreton, on October 25 last year. She said at the time Watson, who lives in the same street, was subject to the two orders for making threats to kill his son.
The prosecutor said: “Both of them were in their respective vehicles and the defendant began to follow the victim’s vehicle, getting very close to the back of it, and then into the opposite carriageway to pull alongside it. It may not surprise your honour to hear there was history between them from when their relationship started to fray when the defendant’s relationship with the victim’s wife broke down.
“The defendant got his vehicle in front of the victim’s and started to reverse at it. The victim got out of the vehicle and was squashed and run over.”
CCTV of the incident was then played to the court. Watson, who has seven previous convictions, was arrested, charged and pleaded guilty to charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, dangerous driving, and breaching the two orders.
Nicola Hunter, mitigating, said: “In some ways he is the product of his age and upbringing having been brought up in a village and farming community. Following the split of his marriage after 60 years he was ill-prepared for independent living and is clearly a man of fixed principals.
“He did behave very badly on that day but it was a chance meeting and he did not go out that day with the intention of causing harm. He also feels he was wronged with his son taking his mother’s side, he took the bait and snapped. He has been in custody now for seven months, the equivalent of a 14-month sentence, and he wants to live a quiet existence and farming life. He just wants to get over it.”