A binman who mistook a naked cyclist taking part in an annual fundraiser for a ‘pervert’ and punched him off his bike has narrowly avoided prison time.
Council worker Lee Turnage, 46, injured the cyclist who was riding in a World Naked Bike Ride event on August 9.
Turnage was also found with a knife and attacked two police officers who tried to arrest him outside The Leather Bottle pub in Colchester, Essex.
Ipswich Crown Court heard one of the officers had needed medical treatment so part of his ear could be glued back on as a result of the attack.
Turnage, who works part-time as a binman for Colchester Council, was given a jail term that was suspended because of his previous good character and caring responsibilities for his grandmother.
Steven Dyble, mitigating, said the offences were out of character for Turnage, who had no previous convictions except for traffic offences he 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.’
Council worker Lee Turnage, 46, of Colchester, Essex, mistook a naked cyclist taking part in a fundraiser for a ‘pervert’ and punched him off his bike before attacking two police officers
Prosecutor Charles Judge said the incident started when Turnage, who was riding his motorbike, saw men cycling in the nude as part of the World Naked Bike Ride event.
Turnage, who was not insured to drive his motorcycle, then turned around and rode back up the hill before he punched the cyclist in the head.
Mr Judge said: ‘Fortunately, although suffering cuts to his 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.’
Another cyclist sent footage of incident to the police, who later attended The Leather Bottle pub and found a helmet and backpack belonging to Turnage.
When the officer seized the items, Turnage approached them and said, ‘You’re not taking that’.
Turnage then attacked one of the officers, putting them in a headlock, kicking them in the abdomen, and damaging their glasses.
A second officer tried to restrain Turnage while onlookers, including children, watched on.
Mr Judge said: ‘PC Jenny Ham was taken to the floor and described being terrified for her safety and her colleague.
Ipswich Crown Court heard one of the officers had needed medical treatment so part of his ear could be glued back on as a result of the attack
‘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, of Colchester, admitted one charge each of dangerous driving, driving without insurance, criminal damage, and assaulting a police officer.
He also admitted two charges of actual bodily harm.
Recorder Jeremy Benson sentenced Turnage to a total of 14 months in prison, suspended for two years on Monday.
Turnage was also ordered to carry out 15 rehabilitation days, 75 hours of unpaid work and pay £2,000 in compensation to the cyclist.
Turnage had his licence revoked for the driving offences and was ordered to pay a further £200 fine.
