Disturbing second binman punches bare bike owner off bike throughout charity trip ‘by mistake’
Lee Turnage, 46, was caught on camera punching a naked cyclist off his bike in Colchester, Essex, after mistaking him for a pervert – he was sentenced to 14 months in prison
In a shocking incident, a motorcyclist mistook a naked cyclist participating in a charity event for a pervert and knocked him off his bike with a punch.
The Crown Prosecution Service released footage of the incident, which shows the victim cycling along a residential street when Lee Turnage, 46, approaches him.
The cyclist was taking part in a World Naked Bike Ride event when he was assaulted by Turnage, a binman for the local council, and fell onto the pavement in Colchester, Essex, on 9 August. Earlier this month, Turnage, a council worker, received a sentence of 14 months in prison, suspended for two years.
Ipswich Crown Court heard that Turnage had assumed the men cycling naked were “perverts”. Steven Dyble, defending, stated that the offences were out of character for Turnage, who had no previous convictions apart from traffic offences committed in France in the 1990s.
He said: “He encountered a number of middle-aged men cycling in the nude. That is not to the defendant’s taste, but he reacted very badly to what he thought of, to use the vernacular, as perverts cycling naked in what was a residential area.”
However, prosecutor Charles Judge argued that Turnage, who was riding his uninsured motorbike, had deliberately turned around and rode back to carry out the assault. Mr Judge said: “Fortunately, although suffering cuts to [the victim’s] legs, grazing to his hands, arm, and hand, bearing in mind the force at which he was struck, he did not strike his head which would have caused more serious injuries.”
In a victim impact statement read to Ipswich Crown Court the cyclist wrote: “This was a charity bike ride – nothing like this has ever happened to me when taking part in the numerous rides I have completed. I have been struggling with sleep because of the pain in my leg – there is no let-up in it and it won’t go away.
“The injuries sustained have impacted me greatly, especially in regard to my mobility. I am more reliant on a stick and putting more weight through it because of the pain.
“My leg remains swollen to this day, meaning I need to keep it elevated as pouch as possible. Some days it feels like that pain will never end.
“Friends I do see spend time looking after me – they have become more like carers than friends.” Turnage was also discovered carrying a blade and launched an assault on two police officers who attempted to arrest him outside The Leather Bottle pub in Colchester, Essex.
One of the constables required medical attention to have part of his ear reattached following the brutal attack. Another cyclist forwarded video evidence of the incident to police, and officers subsequently visited The Leather Bottle pub where they discovered a helmet and rucksack belonging to Turnage.
As the officer confiscated the belongings, Turnage confronted them, declaring, “You’re not taking that”. Turnage then launched into an attack on one of the officers, placing them in a headlock, booting them in the stomach, and smashing their spectacles.
A second officer attempted to subdue Turnage whilst bystanders, including youngsters, looked on in horror. Mr Judge revealed: “PC Jenny Ham was taken to the floor and described being terrified for her safety and her colleague.
“Other officers attended and saw PC Charlie Jones being attended to because his ear was torn – his ear was glued to repair that particular damage.” Turnage, hailing from Colchester, pleaded guilty to one count each of dangerous driving, driving without insurance, criminal damage, and assaulting a police officer.
He also confessed to two counts of actual bodily harm. Recorder Jeremy Benson handed Turnage a total sentence of 14 months in prison, suspended for two years on November 10. In addition, Turnage was instructed to complete 15 rehabilitation days, 75 hours of unpaid work and cough up £2,000 in compensation to the cyclist.
His licence was revoked due to the driving offences and he was slapped with an additional £200 fine. Turnage, who earns a living part-time as a binman for Colchester Council, was granted a suspended jail term due to his previously clean record and his role as a carer for his grandmother.
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