Footballer jailed for running car over teen boys who called him 'fatty' after his team lost a match
A footballer has now been given an extended 10-year prison sentence after he used his car as a "weapon" to run over 11 young rival supporters after they taunted him by calling him "fatty". The 36-year-old, Lee Taylor, rammed his BMW into a group of teenage boys aged between 14 and 19 after his team lost 5-0 in a local football match that took place in South Wales. The Newport Crown Court was told that Taylor posed a "high risk" of harm to the public.
Sky News reported that Taylor would serve at least seven years of his sentence behind bars after the court was told that he had a slew of violent offenses attached to his name. The court was also told that 11 teens were intentionally "knocked down like skittles" by the father-of-one.
The incident occurred in the car park of the football ground after he played for Margam FC, an amateur team, at the home of their rivals, Cornelly Utd., in Bridgend. Supporters were heard shouting insults at the players as the home team crushed their opponents.
It was reported that after the game, a group of young home fans waited right outside the away dressing room for a fight between young players from each of the teams. Judge Daniel Williams said that the 36-year-old's attempts to set ground rules for the fight "between two children" had ended in "incredulity and derision" from the teens, who insulted him and called him "fatty".
The judge said: "The spat between two boys could have been defused by any adult with an ounce of common sense. But you don't have that. Your fragile pride could not take the insults. You were angry and decided to exact revenge on those who dared to dent your fragile ego. You made threats of violence and then used your car as a weapon to inflict violence on the boys because a few of them had disrespected you."
The court also heard that Taylor said "you don't want to mess with me" and then got into his grey BMW, started the vehicle, and then accelerated towards the group of teens, injuring 11 of them in the process. He then reportedly attempted to chase two other boys onto the football pitch.
A 17-year-old boy reportedly jumped on top of the vehicle and punched Taylor's windscreen in an attempt to get him to stop the car. Taylor then jumped out of his vehicle and attacked more of the group before he drove off. Judge Williams said that it was "just good fortune" that none of the victims were seriously injured or killed in the incident.
Taylor denied that he intentionally tried to injure the teens and claimed that he was trying to escape from being attacked by them. He also said that he was not aware of the collisions or hear the teens screaming because his car's stereo was too loud.
The jury unanimously found the man guilty of dangerous driving, and of 11 counts of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent by a majority verdict. Judge Williams also said that Taylor posed a "high risk of harm to others", which resulted in him being given an extended 10-year custodial sentence. He will be serving at least seven years before a parole board will decide to release him. Taylor has also been disqualified from driving for 10 years and had his vehicle confiscated.