Police 'not interested' after cyclist "punched in face"

Christchurch resident William Smith was riding his bicycle in Fairmile Road in the autumn of 2022 when he was passed closely by a lorry. 

He later found the lorry driver walking into a shop so he decided to give him some words of advice, but claims he was punched in the face. 

Mr Smith claims the investigation fell through after the lorry driver turned up for a voluntary interview "but no officers were available" to take a statement.

Fairmile Road, Christchurch (Image: Daily Echo)

The 77-year-old said: “I was cycling in Fairmile Road past the hospital when a lorry driver came so close that I had to go onto the pavement, a fairly common occurrence there. 

“He parked up and went inside one of the shops there to buy some cigarettes and I saw he had parked up so went over. 

“I wasn’t obnoxious, I didn’t swear, but said calmly that he needed to be more careful when passing in his lorry. 

“He then punched me in the face, I fell to the ground and then he kicked up. I had blood on my arms and the next morning the bruising came.” 

Mr Smith said care home office staff on the parade reported it to the police, as he did when he went home – despite not needing hospital treatment. 

“They said they were investigating it, but after six months I learned [the police] sent a letter to the driver requesting he came into the police station for an interview, but was told that he didn’t show up,” he claimed. 

“I eventually found out from a senior officer that he did show up, but nobody was available to interview him, so he left. 

“The police have told me that because it has been downgraded from actual bodily harm to common assault, the case had been dropped as it had also passed a six months' time to investigate. It was ABH, there was blood. 

“I complained about this, spoke to a sergeant but he said the lorry driver came in and nobody was available to interview him.” 

PUNCHED: Cyclist William Smith was assaulted by a lorry driver following a close pass in Fairmile Road (Image: Daily Echo)

Dorset Police was asked for their version of events, but declined to comment on the investigation. 

A spokesman said: “Dorset Police has received a formal complaint regarding the matter, which is being reviewed.  

“It would be inappropriate to comment further at this time while the full circumstances are being looked into.” 

Mr Smith submitted a formal complaint to the office of the police and crime commissioner, David Sidwick.  

A spokeswoman for the office said: “We can confirm a review into a complaint is currently in progress. We are unable to comment further until this is completed. The complainant has been recently updated as to this status of this review.”