Colchester dad waved knife during A12 road rage incident

Connor Reeves, 24, was caught on a dash cam advancing on a car wielding a blade after pulling into a layby.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard Reeves was a passenger in a car driven by his pregnant partner on a slip road off the A12 near a roundabout at Howe Green.

The court heard the victim was perceived to have “cut them up” at a section of the road where lanes merge.

Reeves’ partner responded by undertaking the victim’s car, causing “contact” between the vehicles.

The court was told Reeves was seen “vigorously indicating” to the victim, urging him to pull over.

Both vehicles pulled into a layby and dash-cam footage on the victim’s car recorded the brief incident which followed.

Reeves, of Greenstead Road, Colchester, is seen leaving his vehicle and advancing on the victim’s car with a knife in hand.

Connor Reeves

The court was told the victim did not exit his vehicle, instead he immediately drove away, as Reeves made a “slash” movement towards his vehicle.

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Reeves and his partner followed the victim’s car for “some time”, until the victim pulled into a police station.

Reeves was later arrested and admitted possession of a knife and common assault.

He also admitted committing the offences in breach of a suspended sentence order.

The court heard Reeves has a number of previous convictions for assault, racially aggravated assault, burglary and possession of a knife.

Sentencing judge Recorder John Caudle said his partner was “extremely lucky not to face prosecution” for her manner of driving.

Gavin Burrell, mitigating, said it is “debatable” as to who was at fault during the initial incident which sparked the assault.

“It was all about the defendant trying to act in a protective way towards his children, but doing it in completely the wrong way,” he said.

“His thought process is perhaps somewhat disordered.”

Mr Burrell said the defendant had a “poor upbringing”, and did not have “particularly good role models” to follow.

“He is a prime candidate to engage with the probation services,” he said.

Mr Caudle sentenced Reeves to 21 months imprisonment, telling Reeves he had “lost his head” during an “armed road rage incident”.