
Expectant dad punched passenger and assaulted police officer in road rage incident
Corey Chugg, a scrapyard worker, admitted causing actual bodily harm (ABH) to the van passenger but denied assaulting the officer, PC Evans, reports WalesOnline.
The 28-year-old's trial at Cardiff Magistrates' Court heard the incident took place on August 28 last year outside Cardiff Central police station in Cathays Park. Chugg said he had just finished a shift off Dumballs Road when he received a call from his pregnant partner.
"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.
"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."
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."
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."
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.
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.

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Wales Online
2 days ago
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She said: 'It's devastating as a family and we believe the outcome [is that he is dead] but he deserves to have a proper funeral. I'm still awake until silly times in the morning. I wake up and I can't get it out of my head. It's just crazy. 'You think of all sorts, did he suffer? Was it sudden? Someone evil knows something and they're not speaking up.' She added: 'He is so missed and loved it is unreal, it's heartbreaking and cruel. At the end of the day he's someone's son and he's my nephew, and I'll do anything I've got to do to find him.' Detective Inspector Owain Morris said: 'South Wales Police is actively pursuing a detailed and comprehensive investigation into the disappearance of Ricky Harris. 'Since Ricky's disappearance, we have conducted extensive searches utilising our Specialist Search officers, which includes specialised units such as the dive team, dog scent teams, and support from the police helicopter (NPAS) and drone teams. 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