The Incident Involving a HGV Driver and a Factory Manager
A 44-year-old HGV driver, Daniel Ley from the village of Harby in Nottinghamshire, has avoided a prison sentence after an incident involving a factory manager. The event took place on April 28, 2022, when Ley was delivering bricks to a company located just outside Newcastle. During the delivery, a conflict arose between Ley and the stores coordinator at the yard in Throckley regarding the correct unloading procedure. The employee reported the issue to his manager, which led to the factory chief confronting Ley.
The factory manager, dressed in fluorescent orange workwear, approached Ley’s truck to take a picture of the registration number. At that moment, Ley, who was behind the wheel, moved the HGV forward, resulting in the manager being struck by the vehicle. Despite the collision, the manager suffered only back, neck, and buttock pain and managed to remain standing as the truck pushed him.
Ley admitted to attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent and was given a two-year suspended sentence at Newcastle Crown Court. He must also complete 200 hours of unpaid work, pay £500 in compensation to the victim, and cover costs of £1,000. Additionally, he is required to meet rehabilitation requirements during the period of his suspended sentence.
Footage of the Incident
Shocking footage captured the manager approaching the truck’s cab before Ley closed the door. The manager then retrieved his phone, moved to the front of the vehicle, and looked down at his screen, unaware that Ley was preparing to move the truck. The boss appeared surprised when the driver hit him at speed, stumbling as the HGV pushed him across the yard. As the manager managed to get out of the way, the truck seemed to gain speed, attempting to move past him. The factory worker hit the cab a few times as the vehicle drove away.
Judge’s Statement
Judge Sarah Mallett highlighted the sequence of events, stating that Ley had gone to the company to collect a load of bricks and had an argument with a staff member about compliance with health and safety rules. She noted that the staff member appropriately passed his concerns to the factory manager. After discussing the issue, Ley drove forward, striking the manager and pushing him back. Fortunately, the manager was able to stay on his feet, although the potential consequences were clear.
Details of the Dispute
During the drop-off, the stores coordinator spoke to Ley about the firm’s health and safety policies. Ley asked if he could get onto his vehicle to secure the load. Despite being told he could not due to health and safety rules, he climbed onto the trailer. After the employee reported the dispute to his manager, the boss informed Ley that he would not be welcome back in the yard if he did not follow the rules. The manager also mentioned that he intended to take a picture of Ley’s number plate at the end of their discussion.
Prosecutor Kevin Wardlaw described how the complainant walked to the front of the vehicle to take the photo, at which point the defendant drove forward, striking the complainant and pushing him backward. The complainant tried to roll to his left to avoid the vehicle, which he eventually managed to do.
Impact on the Victim
The victim was left in pain, and in an impact statement, he expressed that he was shaken up by what happened. Ley’s lawyer, Chris Jeyes, stated that his client, who has no prior criminal record and is still employed, reacted badly after becoming frustrated. References from those who know Ley, who has caring responsibilities, described him as a “decent, conscientious and hard working” man.
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