Cyclist's sentence for bashing elderly woman delayed

A cyclist who bashed an 81-year-old motorist in the face with his fist during a fit of road rage was today further remanded for pre-sentence and victim impact reports.

George Frires, 21, unemployed, made another brief appearance in Tauranga District Court, where he pleaded guilty a week ago to injuring with intent to injure.

Although admitting the charge -- reduced from injuring with intent to causing grievous bodily harm -- Frires had disputed some of the prosecution facts.

This morning his lawyer, Viv Winiata, said that had been resolved.

Crown prosecutor Duncan McWilliam told Judge Thomas Ingram the elderly woman had been driving on Cameron Rd in Tauranga at 8.20am on September 15. She overtook Frires who was travelling in the same direction on a bicycle.

He had been seen riding erratically and swearing at other road users, before running into the back of the victim's car which had stopped at traffic lights, the court heard.

Frires fell off his bike but was unhurt. He walked up to the driver's door, wrenched it open and abused the woman, Mr McWilliam said.

She was punched in the face and her nose and spectacles were smashed. When he took off, members of the public chased. The court heard Frires told police: "This old lady knocked me off my bike so I punched her in the nose."

Frires, who is in custody, will be sentenced on October 18.

- NZPA