A dairy farmer has been found guilty of seriously assaulting a cyclist who was training for the Ironman.
A jury in the Rotorua District Court today took just over 90 minutes to find Joseph Arthur Frederick Roberts, 22, guilty of causing grievous bodily harm to Alasdair Slade.
The incident happened in February on Broadlands Rd after Mr Slade pulled the fingers at the accused and yelled at him to get in to his own lane.
That angered Roberts who the Crown said did a u-turn and proceeded to pull up in front of Mr Slade twice. Mr Slade cycled around him but on the third occasion Roberts allegedly got out of his vehicle and "pushed or shoulder barged" him off his bike.
After the decision Judge Phillip Cooper convicted Roberts and remanded him in custody until sentencing on December 17.