An angry dad who drove his car at his former partner’s new boyfriend in Watford was given a suspended jail sentence on March 2.
Philip Ifil, 36, of Westmount Apartments, Watford, saw his son with the man when he thought he should be at school.
He confronted him at Marion Court in front of the boy. There was pushing and shoving and Ifil spat in the victim’s face, St Albans Crown Court heard.
Prosecutor David Stanton said Ifil put the boy in his car, did a three-point turn, accelerated and struck the victim, who was standing in the road.
He was sent flying in the air, hitting the side of the bonnet and the road. Ifil drove off down St Albans Road.
The man was taken to hospital, where he was treated for injuries to the left side of his body. His left ribs, flank, hip, calf and ankle were tender to touch.
Ifil appeared for sentence having been convicted of causing actual bodily harm, assault by beating, dangerous driving, and failing to stop.
He was of previous good character with no convictions or cautions.
Ifil, who represented himself in court , told the judge he saw his son with the man he did not know.
He said: “The mum did not want me to see him.
“I will take responsibility. I am sorry. I am not going to look for trouble. I need to control myself. It was random. I was coming home from work.”
Judge Michael Roques told him the incident had happened in front of his young son and the car had been a very dangerous weapon.
He added: “You have lost your good character.”
He passed a 20-month jail sentence suspended for 18 months. Ifil must complete 100 hours of unpaid work and was banned from driving until January 12, 2024. He must take an extended retest before he regains a licence.
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