A terrified father was brutally attacked by an angry cyclist he told to stop riding on the pavement.
Francois Butler, 54, was headbutted and suffered two broken ribs after being wrestled by the attacker, as his children looked on in horror.
Battered - Francois Butler shows his injuries Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL
Mr Butler of Wimborne Road, Southend, said today: "It all happened in seconds. We were arguing and then he just flipped and headbutted me, even though I had my glasses on. He squeezed me and I remember wrestling with him and I could hear the kids crying and screaming because their daddy was getting beaten up in the street."
He was unloading his car when a cyclist came hurtling towards him, sparking concerns for his ten-year-old twins and five-year-old son.
He asked the cyclist to use the road and an argument broke out leading to the attack.
Mr Butler hit the man in the face and he fled on his mountain bike towards Bournemouth Park Road.
The battered dad went to Southend Hospital for treatment to the broken ribs, two black eyes and a badly bruised leg.
Southend police appealed for witnesses.
The cyclist was white, aged 25-30, 5ft 8ins, of medium build with a blue baseball cap and a blue or grey bomber jacket.
The incident happened at 6.30pm on Friday. Call police on 01702 431212.
Published Tuesday, December 17, 2002
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