A Merseyside woman pushed a teenager from his bicycle, because she didn't like the fact he was riding on the pavement.
Helen Henry-Bond, 49, of Station Road, Ainsdale, was convicted of assault by beating following a trial at Sefton Magistrates' Court on Friday, 31st December 2021.
Assault by beating, an offence contrary to section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988, has a maximum penalty of 26 weeks' custody on summary conviction.
Magistrates heard that Henry-Bond first shouted at the 15-year-old boy, as he rode his bicycle on the pavement beside Dukes Bar, Station Road, Ainsdale on Sunday, 25th April 2021.
Henry-Bond was walking home from a shopping trip as the cyclist approached in the opposite direction. The pavement narrowed at that point, due to tables and chairs positioned outside the business.
The court heard that the boy pulled up alongside a flower planter separating the Dukes Bar seating area from the pavement. Henry-Bond shouted at the boy, telling him it was illegal to ride on the pavement.
She then pushed him by his chest, causing him to lose balance and fall sideways from the bike. He fell into the planter causing cuts and grazes down his leg.
Henry-Bond, who has mental health conditions, then went home and posted a message on the "Stand Up for Ainsdale" Facebook group. In it she said that the boy had been riding "full pelt" on the pavement in her direction and "refused to give way". She added: "I stood my ground, pushed him to the floor, teach him some manners, next time he won't be so lucky".
The boy had already alerted his parents to the incident before they saw Henry-Bond's Facebook post a short time later.
Giving evidence at her trial, Henry-Bond claimed that the boy had "come flying around the corner" in her direction and had "slammed his brakes on" causing her to raise her hands in self defence.
She said that her mental health conditions made her extremely anxious about things like people riding bikes on the pavement.
Henry-Bond's account was contradicted by witness Robert Hamlin, who was sitting outside Dukes when the altercation took place.
Mr Hamlin, who does not know either party, described the boy travelling at walking pace as he pushed his bike along with one foot instead of properly riding it.
He refuted Henry-Bond's claim that she had raised her hands in self defence, saying that she had struck the boy's bike causing it to topple over.
Mr Hamlin added: "She (Henry-Bond) was the aggressor towards him (the boy)".
When challenged over Mr Hamlin's differing recollection of events, Henry-Bond said she did not believe it.
Having considered the evidence, Magistrates were of the opinion that Henry-Bond had committed the offence and convicted her of assault by beating.
She was ordered to pay the boy £100 in compensation and £714 in other costs (it is not entirely clear how these were apportioned).
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