Skelmerdale road rage victim Paul Sutch punched to the floor by angry motorist

Oct 27 2011 by Tom Duffy, Skelmersdale Advertiser

A SKELMERSDALE man fears he could have been killed when he was punched to the ground in a suspected road rage attack.

Paul Sutch lost a front tooth and suffered heavy bruising to the side of his face after being punched in the face by a motorist.

Police confirmed that Paul was assaulted after remonstrating with a driver who failed to indicate at the junction of Willow Hey and Wigan Road, forcing the 46-year-old to jump out of the way of the car as it turned.

Paul said that he was now fed up with life after being battered to the ground and left semi-conscious in the street by the driver.

Police are now appealing for help in tracking down the driver.

Paul had decided to pop out to the chemist at tea time on Tuesday, October 18, and he was at the top of Willow Hey in Old Skelmersdale when the incident occurred.

Paul said: “This petrol head nearly ran me over. I jumped out of the way, and then waved my arms in the air.

“I said ‘Use your indicators’, when his car suddenly stopped in the road.

“The driver came walking straight towards me, and said ‘What did you say.’

“I put my arm out to defend myself, and then he punched me straight in the face.

“He knocked me straight on my back in the middle of the road, and the way he threw the punch suggested he knew what he was doing.

“He was around 5ft 10in, of stocky build, and wore blue jeans, grey top and spoke with a Liverpool accent. I think the car was a BMW.

“I would definitely recognise him again.

“A taxi driver helped me home, but I can’t believe this could happen to me on my doorstep.

“A punch can kill, and luckily for him I did not bang my head on the road.”

Paul is now recovering at home.

Anyone with information should call police on 0845 1 25 35 45 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.