Blue badge fury: Disabled driver who mooned at motorist in disabled bay spat fury over 'stolen' parking spot

A disabled motorist who chased down a man who parked in a disabled bay, spat in his face and mooned at him at traffic lights has been handed a suspended prison sentence, in a case that has shocked a Cheshire town.

Francis McGrath, 59, from Runcorn, was given a blue badge due to COPD, emphysema, DVT and back pain. But his fury at finding Stuart Reeve's van in a disabled bay outside a chemist boiled over into a terrifying road rage attack that left his victims fearing for their safety.

How did the row over a disabled parking bay escalate?

The incident began on August 15 last year when Mr Reeve, 47, parked in a disabled bay outside Murdishaw pharmacy on Gorsewood Road in Runcorn, as no other spaces were available. He went inside to collect a prescription, leaving his partner Cathy Warburton in the passenger seat.

McGrath, driving his MG SUV, pulled up and began shouting at Ms Warburton, challenging her over the parking. When Mr Reeve emerged, he told McGrath to ''give his head a good wobble'' — a remark that triggered a violent escalation.

What did McGrath do during the road rage attack?

Prosecutor Marta Pawlowska told Warrington Magistrates' Court that McGrath ran towards the couple's Fiat Scudo van, shouting that he wanted a fight, and threatened to kill Mr Reeve. He then kicked and punched the van, causing £1,920 of damage.

As other shoppers looked on, McGrath called two friends to ''circle'' the van. When the couple tried to drive off, he followed them, and at a set of traffic lights he approached the driver's side, spat at Mr Reeve, then walked in front of the van, dropped his trousers and bared his buttocks in full view.

He then got back in his SUV, did a U-turn and drove directly at the couple's vehicle, swerving away only at the last moment. The incident only ended when police arrived.

What did the victims say about the ordeal?

Mr Reeve said: ''I was disgusted and I felt violated. I wanted to get out of the van to confront him but I knew this is what he wanted and I would certainly not hit an older man.''

Ms Warburton added: ''By the time Stuart came out of the chemist this man was red in the face and had foam in his mouth. The rest of the afternoon and night I was in a state of shock, panic, stress and anxiety. That has not gone since that time and now I cannot relax in my own home.''

The couple have since installed CCTV at their home, and Ms Warburton, who has a daughter with autism, said she worries about her safety when she is at work.

What was the defence's argument?

In mitigation, defence solicitor Ian Weights said McGrath, who has a ''long list of physical and mental health issues'', was legitimately driving as a disabled person and would have been frustrated to find someone ''fit and well'' parked in a disabled bay.

''Remonstrating with someone is not in itself an unreasonable position to take but when there was no apology that has made matters worse,'' he said. ''He is deeply ashamed of his actions and is extremely sorry for what happened. He is not someone going around picking fights with people.''

What sentence did McGrath receive?

At Warrington Magistrates' Court, McGrath was convicted of threatening behaviour, assault, criminal damage and careless driving. He admitted outraging public decency and failing to provide a specimen of breath.

He was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months, banned from driving for 30 months, and ordered to pay £500 compensation to Mr Reeve plus £1,000 for the damage to the van. He must also complete 20 days of rehabilitation activity and is barred from contacting the victims for 18 months under a restraining order.

JP Stephen Storey told him: ''This was an unpleasant and ugly incident and a totally disproportionate reaction to a minor incident of someone parking in a disabled space. It caused fear and distress to the victims.''

McGrath, who refused a breath test when police traced him, will now have to live with the consequences of a moment of madness that has left a couple terrified in their own home.