Police or not...

[Dave the Smeghead]

Just finished the commute home from work during which I got pulled off my bike by some p*ssed up idiots whilst waiting for the traffic lights to change at the end of Lombard Street at its junction with Gracechurch Street. Wrong place at the wrong time. I took a kick to my back that thankfully was mostly cushioned by my rucksack but I did manage to pull one of them over and ensured that he can't eat his Christmas dinner as a few of his teeth are now on the pavement there. The rest then ran off pretty quickly. Unfortunately no police were about at the time.
So do I report this to the police or not? Would it be a waste of time as no real damage has been done and I couldn't identify the group if I tried? I didn't really see them as they were behind me when they pulled me off the bike.

 

[Dave the Smeghead]

Definitely not harmless fun and I am only just calming down now. So I guess thats one vote for telling the police.

 

[screenman]

Police, the next person may come off worse.

 

[Katherine]

Please report it. Hope you are ok.

 

[Drago]

Call it it. It's an assault. It may not go anywhere, but if you don't try...

Glad you're ok.

 

[User19783]

I would say no,
As you put In, a good right hook, so leave it, and move on.

Well done btw.

 

[guitarpete247]

Leave him to eat his Christmas dinner soup and look for a dentist next week. You could end answering plods questions when you should be enjoying your sprouts.

 

[TVC]

Clearly you were assaulted, so it should be reported. However, if the moron is now seeking a dentist on Christmas day and will have a perminant reminder of his actions then you have possibly exacted more punishment than any magistrate would.

His Christmas is ruined, if yours isn't then why spend more time on the matter.

 

[TheDoctor]

Normally I'd say report it, but in this case I'd not bring myself to Plods attention.

 

[User19783]

Every action has a re- action,

In this case, they won't forget they action.

 

[Pale Rider]

Risk of you being charged if the police become involved.

Your defence would be self defence, but there's no guarantee a panel of magistrates or a jury would accept that.

Presumably, the yobbos have no means of identifying you, so it's a case of least said, soonest mended.

I would avoid the junction for a week or two, just in case the injured party/police are looking to identify and arrest you.

 

[wheresthetorch]

I would urge caution. While I totally condone your actions, a good solicitor could put a case that your actions went beyond self defence and you could end up being prosecuted.

Best to let it lie, and take satisfaction that you stood up for yourself and meted out some damage. However, if your bike was damaged, you might need to report it to get a crime number for insurance purposes.

 

[marzjennings]

Depends, is the spot covered by CC camera's that can back up your side of the story? I would have attempted the exact same as you, but if reported without corroborating evidence it's possible the scrote you hit could claim you started it. He got his comeuppance and I wouldn't want the extra hassle of going through a court case to get him officially charged.

 

[Piemaster]

It's unfortunate but I'd have to say be cautious too.
If it was being reported in a paper the headline could easily be 'Cyclist assaults pedestrian'. There has been a couple of incidents recently in which a cyclist has been accused of attacks on motorists, being on CC we would tend to apply personal experience and put it down to a reaction to a perceived life threatening action from the motorist.

There was a group of them, one of you. I'd suspect they would all say you were the assailant, because we all ride along looking for a group of drunks to have a go at don't we? Any chance of CCTV or any other witness to corroborate? Though again all they may remember is you smacking someone in the mouth.

I had a situation that shook me a couple of years ago, sunny afternoon and a quiet cycle path. Group of drunken youths deliberately weaving over the path to prevent my passing. Got past them eventually to have apples thrown at me. I don't know why they had a big bag of apples either. Wasn't actually being hit that shook me but the intimidation and threat of violence.

 

[Brandane]

Leave it. It's your word against several (??) witnesses regarding the sequence of events unless there is CCTV to back up your version.
In the cold light of day they might decide that they are the aggrieved party; and you will have made it easy for them by handing yourself in to the Police, if you go down that road.
It sounds as if justice has been done anyway!