Morecambe man escapes jail for cycle seat attack on cousin

A man who assaulted his cousin with a bike seat after a long-standing grudge has been spared jail.
Preston Crown Court.  PIC BY ROB LOCKPreston Crown Court.  PIC BY ROB LOCK
Preston Crown Court. PIC BY ROB LOCK

Dwaine Lee Sharples, 29, spotted his cousin cycling on the path between Lancaster and Morecambe on July 23 last year.

Preston Crown Court heard the cousins had avoided each other since they fell out two years ago, but when Sharples saw his cousin, close to the Asda supermarket, his temper flared.

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Sharples, of Lancaster Road, Morecambe, got off his bike and waited on the cycle track, where he appeared to be carrying out work on his bike.

But as his cousin rode past - giving Sharples as wide a berth as he could - Sharples hit out at his cousin with his bike seat, still attached to the metal stem.

Although the seat did not connect, the cyclist fell from the bike and suffered injuries.

Sharples continued shouting abuse, saying he was going to kill his cousin as his cousin pedalled away, bleeding.

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Recorder Robin Bedford, sentencing, said: “There is a fuse waiting to be lit when people hold grudges, then they are surprised when their anger suddenly becomes violent.”

The court heard Sharples’ cousin did not wish to make a victim personal statement.

Since the attack in July last year, Sharples has been for an interview with the Army but may have to put his career on hold as a result of his conviction for causing actual bodily harm (ABH) to his cousin.

Recorder Bedford said: “Whatever the history between you it has obviously left a bitter taste in your mouth which clearly has been eating away at you.

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“Unfortunately when that happens, the people or person with all this bitterness who allows this sense of grievance to continue is usually the person who suffers the most.

“Your sense of grievance about the incident that happened some years ago boiled over when you saw your cousin riding along.

“No doubt there will have been some exchange of words between you but that wasn’t enough for you. You took the opportunity to get some revenge.

“You expected trouble and it seems to me that you were the one who initiated it.”

He handed Sharples a 12 month sentence suspended for two years and ordered him to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.

He also ruled he should pay £500 compensation to his cousin and £500 court costs.