A personal trainer has been jailed for 23 months after a rage-fueled rampage outside a pub in Bradford, West Yorkshire, where he rammed a car and then a building with his Range Rover. Gavin Thorpe, 44, admitted to dangerous driving, criminal damage, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The incident occurred on the evening of June 15, when Thorpe became enraged after a woman refused to leave with him from The Park pub and instead sought a ride home with other men. CCTV footage captured Thorpe reversing his black Range Rover at speed into a Seat vehicle carrying the woman and two men. The collision forced the Seat backward, and two men quickly exited the car.
Thorpe then reversed again, narrowly missing the Seat, before crashing into another parked vehicle. The two men were seen scrambling out of the way as the SUV approached. Subsequently, Thorpe drove his vehicle into a stone building, causing a partial collapse of the structure as onlookers emerged from the pub.
Following the incident, Thorpe exited his vehicle, shouted expletives at the men, threw a brick in their direction, and fled the scene on foot. West Yorkshire Police were called to the location shortly before 9:40 p.m. and determined that the collision appeared to be deliberate.
At Bradford Crown Court, it was heard that the rampage was a revenge attack stemming from jealousy and dissatisfaction after Thorpe behaved inappropriately towards the woman. One of the men in the Seat sustained neck and back pain and required an X-ray, while the woman suffered minor injuries.
In addition to the jail sentence, Thorpe, who is of no fixed address, received a three-year driving ban and must pass an extended re-test before being eligible to drive again. Recorder Patrick Palmer, who sentenced Thorpe, noted that it was fortunate no one was seriously injured and described the actions as deliberate, stemming from rage and anger. The recorder advised Thorpe to seek help for anger management while in custody.