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Man is fined after run-in

From the Swindon Advertiser, first published Monday 6th Mar 2006.

LANDLORD Neil Alderhindon has been ordered to pay £500 after a jury convicted him of careless driving following a run-in with one of his tenants.

And the 38-year-old plumber has also had five points put on his licence following the conviction.

But he was cleared of the more serious charge of dangerous driving and a common assault on Kuda Kujeke, who used to rent a room at one of his properties.

Alderhindon had been to the house on Linslade Street, Rodbourne, last year to see if the gas and electric meters were working properly.

But while he was there Mr Kujeke, who DJs in a number of clubs in town, confronted him about problems he was having with the property.

Alderhindon locked himself in his van and drove away from the scene saying he was scared of his tenant, who was banging on the window of his vehicle.

Mr Kujeke claimed that his foot was then run over and his shoulder struck by the wing mirror as he was carried on the bonnet of the van as his landlord sped off.

However, Alderhindon insisted that Mr Kujeke had never been in front of his vehicle and as far as he knew had not been run over or struck by the mirror.

As well as being a self-employed plumber, the defendant told the court he also owned properties on Frobisher Drive, Darnley Close and Linslade Street which he let out.

He was charged with assault and dangerous driving but after more than five hours a jury acquitted him of both charges.

They did find him guilty of the lesser alternative of careless driving in relation to his pulling away at speed.

Paul Orton, defending, said that as a result of the case his client had lost one of his main contracts after they learned about the allegations against him.

He said that Alderhindon had been convicted of the lesser charge and had a clean driving record and that the complainant had run into the road in front of his client's vehicle.

Passing sentence, Judge Charles Wade said: "The jury has found you guilty of careless driving as the alternative to dangerous driving.

"There is not doubt that in driving off as you did you allowed yourself to drive off far too quickly and carelessly."

He imposed a £400 fine with £100 costs and five penalty points on his licence.

Alderhindon, of Darnley Close, was told he will have to serve a 14-day prison sentence if he does not pay the fine.

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