Garry Oates, 66, was given a suspended prison sentence after being convicted of dangerous driving and assault occasioning actual bodily harm for driving into traffic marshal Mark Patterson at an Isle of Wight car boot sale in June 2021. The case matters because the court heard that Patterson suffered significant physical injuries and lasting psychological harm after the incident, which followed a dispute over access to a track.

Portsmouth Crown Court imposed a two-year sentence suspended for two years, fined Oates £3,000 and banned him from driving for two years. Patterson spent six days in hospital, lost several teeth and said he had been unable to return to road traffic work; he also described serious mental-health difficulties. Prosecutors said Oates used his Mercedes as a weapon, while Oates denied involvement, said he had not received a fair trial and claimed justice had not been done.