When his pregnant wife had an argument with a van driver, he took matters into his own hands

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When his pregnant wife had an argument with a van driver, he took matters into his own hands
Corey Chugg fintervened in an argument between his pregnant wife and the occupants of a van
Corey Chugg leaves Cardiff Magistrates' Court
(Image: Conor Gogarty )
An expectant father climbed into a van in a road rage and repeatedly punched a passenger before assaulting a female police officer who was trying to stop the violence. Corey Chugg, a 28-year-old scrapyard worker, admitted causing actual bodily harm (ABH) to the van passenger but denied assaulting the officer, PC Evans.
His trial at Cardiff Magistrates' Court heard the bust-up took place on August 28 last year outside Cardiff Central police station in Cathays Park. He said he had just finished a shift off Dumballs Road when he received a call from his pregnant partner.
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"My partner called me very upset because she had been cut up by a gentleman and two other men who had almost caused a collision," Chugg told the court.
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"I was connected to the Bluetooth speaker in my car and I could hear how aggressive they were being to her, swearing and following her. I left work to go there with the intention of just stopping the aggression from them because she was newly pregnant and our two dogs were in the car as well."
The 6ft 4ins-tall Chugg pulled up on King Edward VII Avenue in his blue Ford Fiesta. Asked what he was planning, he said: "My intention was to speak to the gentlemen in the van. Granted it wasn't gonna be a polite conversation.
"As I opened the door, the passenger in the front spat at me. There's no justifying it but I did jump across and assault him."
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CCTV footage showed the van rocking as Chugg clambered in and rained punches on the passenger Samuel Turato. The court heard Mr Turato sustained three to four bumps on his head and a cut to his right ear.
"I did want to speak to the driver as well," said Chugg. "He was the one I knew was making most of the threats and being aggressive to my partner."
Corey Chugg leaves Cardiff Magistrates' Court
(Image: Conor Gogarty )
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As Chugg got out of the van to look for the driver, he was approached by PC Evans, who touched his arm. "She tried to grab my arm and I did brush her hand off and moved away from her," said Chugg. "I didn't show any aggression or make any attempt to assault her."
But prosecutor Nicholas Evans said this was a "reckless assault" as Chugg had moved his arm away "very swiftly" and caused a mark on PC Evans' hand.
Other officers arrived on the scene shortly afterwards and Chugg was arrested. Representing himself, he told the court: "If she'd told me she was arresting me I would have complied."
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District Judge Rhys Williams found Chugg guilty of assaulting the officer. "It's clear you were angry," said the judge. "You assaulted the passenger in the van, you were violent and aggressive, you got out of the van, and the approaching officer PC Evans would have heard raised voices and seen some of what had gone on as the van was rocking."
The judge said Chugg should have expected the officer "would have at least wanted to speak to you". Batting away her arm was a reckless and unlawful use of force, Judge Williams told the defendant.
The court heard Chugg had a previous ABH conviction from 2017 and a caution for battery from 2013. He told the court his six-days-a-week scrap job earns him around £450 each week after tax and that he is the sole provider for his family as his partner recently gave birth. The mortgage on their home is £1,200 a month, he said.
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Chugg, of Dan-Y-Cribyn in Ynysybwl, Rhondda Cynon Taf, was ordered to complete 80 hours of unpaid work and pay £200 in prosecution costs, £75 in compensation to Mr Turato, £50 to PC Evans, and a £114 victim services surcharge.