Jailed man blames violent attacks on ‘sleeping problems’

Businessman Glen Williams, 51, of Military Road, also beat-up his estranged wife just months after the attack on an innocent motorist he thought was driving too slowly.

As well as being jailed for 23 months, Williams has also been banned by a judge from contacting his wife or married daughter for five years.

Williams pleaded guilty to assault by beating and criminal damage at Epsom Downs, Surrey, on May 26 last year, when he appeared at Guildford Crown Court this week.

He also admitted assault causing actual bodily harm to his wife Susan Williams at her home in Ewell, Surrey, on September 16 last year.

The court was told that Williams ran a chain of car washes in South East England which employed a large number of people.

But it was revealed that during the past five years he had suffered from a sleep disorder - blamed for violent losses of temper which had landed in trouble with the courts after 46 years of leading a law-abiding life.

Motorist Peter Dalton felt the full force of Williams’ anger when he had the misfortune to be driving in front of him.

Iestyn Morgan, prosecuting, said: “Mr Williams became upset at the slow speed of Mr Dalton.

He overtook the other man’s car then he parked across both lanes forcing Mr Dalton to stop.”

Mr Morgan said that Williams stormed towards the victim, screaming: “Are you mental?”

He said Williams then tried to stop the victim filming the scene on a video camera.

“He ripped the windscreen wiper off Mr Dalton’s car, causing the windscreen to shatter, before driving off.

“Moments later the defendant returned as Mr Dalton was standing by his car phoning for help.

“He battered the victim, yelling: “Give me the phone or I’ll rip your ear off.”

“When the defendant was later traced from his registration number, he claimed he no longer owned the car at the time of the incident.

“But police discovered evidence that the vehicle had been parked on the defendant’s driveway after the attack on Mr Dalton.”

A day after he was quizzed for the second time about the road rage incident, Williams went to the home of his estranged wife at Ewell.

Mr Morgan said: “Mrs Williams found the defendant in the kitchen and asked what he was doing, the defendant replied: “I live here, too.”

“The defendant then launched a sustained assault on his wife whom he accused of trying to contact a friend Victoria Bridgeman - who has subsequently become his partner.

“Later, the defendant told her: “I could have killed you. You should get me done.”

In a victim impact statement, Mrs Williams said she still had “flashbacks” to the attack and was terrified of bumping into her husband.

“She’s had to give up her job as a team leader for a keep-fit group as a result of the assault,” said Mr Morgan.

The court was told that the defendant had four previous convictions, including affray and common assault, all within the past five years.

Rupert Hallowes, defending, said his client had led a blameless life until he suffered from a sleeping disorder which left him sometimes only having three hours sleep a night.

“It has led to a loss of control,” he said, “My client is genuinely appalled at his conduct.”