please empty your brain below
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I am so so sorry this happened to you. What a complete and utter ****!
A similar situation happened to me 10 years ago. I threw the offending bottle back in the car window and cycled off at speed. I'll learn from your story.
Taffy | 23.11.24 - 7:33 a.m. | #
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How scary.
I hope you have reported the thug to the police.
Nibs | 23.11.24 - 7:36 a.m. | #
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Such incidents often leave more mental damage than physical - stay strong and resilient in the knowledge that the large number of people wishing you well far out number this violent individual.
gruntbuggly | 23.11.24 - 7:43 a.m. | #
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Good grief! Lots of sympathy. I’ve done something similar a couple of times. Guess I’ll be more cautious in future.
RogerB | 23.11.24 - 7:56 a.m. | #
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Very sorry to read about this incident. I agree with the comments already posted.
Regular reader | 23.11.24 - 8:04 a.m. | #
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I'm very sorry to hear about this but glad you're ok.
It demonstrates how things can very easily turn nasty.
I hope you've reported the incident to the police.
Hadders | 23.11.24 - 8:17 a.m. | #
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Because you and I are unlike them we are unaware there are people about who communicate with violence. I'm very sorry you encountered one and were reminded
Noel | 23.11.24 - 8:31 a.m. | #
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like everyone else I find this very saddening and and glad you suffered no serious physical injury. Also thanks for sharing it with us in such detail. That takes resilience. I would hate to think this bullys actions change you in any significant way.
Keith the Kraut | 23.11.24 - 8:37 a.m. | #
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Sorry to hear that, have been in vaguely similar situations a few times... As gruntbuggly writes above, it can have a much bigger mental impact than any bruises, so keep positive
Herned | 23.11.24 - 8:39 a.m. | #
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I'm fine thanks (thanks).
diamond geezer | Homepage | 23.11.24 - 8:40 a.m. | #
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Alarm and commiserations.
Something very similar happened to me, but at night and in Chicago. I tried hard diplomatically not to get to the "mildly gibbering" stage, and in the end I escaped actual violence, but the shame of appeasing the four large guys *who were in the wrong* has stayed with me for 20 years.
I do hope you are OK. Really.
Is it possible that roid rage was involved?
MartinG | 23.11.24 - 8:44 a.m. | #
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It’s terrible that as a good citizen you are subject to such violence
The clue is that someone who just deliberately throws their rubbish onto the street is someone who does care.
He clearly felt threatened by you photographing (or videoing him)
As you have the car number I think you should report it to the police. Were there no witnesses to the assault? Even if there weren’t your reporting of him might help the police uncover some other misdemeanour and just maybe the assailant might think twice before he does something similar again.
Brian | 23.11.24 - 8:52 a.m. | #
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Sorry to hear about your experience, my wife had similar with a steroid fuelled Andrew Tate type earlier this year who objected to her being in the way of his Mercedes. Fortunately a kindly builder working on a house nearby stepped in and de-escalated the situation but it really shook her up and made her feel quite vulnerable for those few seconds.
Phil | 23.11.24 - 8:52 a.m. | #
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Really sorry to hear this. Hope you reported him to the police.
David Jones | 23.11.24 - 8:53 a.m. | #
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I’m sorry. I’m glad you’re ok.
Kirk | 23.11.24 - 9:05 a.m. | #
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I’m so sorry, this is terrifying. I hope you’re ok. I hope that being able to write about it has helped. This shouldn’t happen. That oaf should have been able to keep their bottle in the car. They should have been able to resist getting out of the car.
I hope he hasn’t got a partner or ‘loved ones’ - the fear they must feel.
I keep looking at the discarded bottle and thinking of how much of his DNA would have been on there but that’s wasn’t going to be your thought at that time, plus it was raining and how would you have got it home without contaminating it. And what would the police have done? Nothing. He’d admit he mistakenly dropped it out of the window and his mate would have lied and said he never left the vehicle.
The main thing is that you’re safe. And you’re a decent, respectful person who still sees right in the world.
Auntie Susan | 23.11.24 - 9:16 a.m. | #
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The trouble is that if we let the bastards win then the bastards win. Glad you're okay and have reported the assault and the littering; as a one-off it's unlikely anything will be done about either but it may be just one of many by the same person.
Andrew S | 23.11.24 - 9:21 a.m. | #
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Please report this to police. This man may have history of doing this and needs to be stopped before he seriously hurts someone.
Ackshley | 23.11.24 - 9:26 a.m. | #
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I had a go at a school child in Feltham the other day for blatantly dropping litter in front of a group of adults waiting at a bus stop and near a bin. Thankfully no assault took place and I placed the item in the bin myself.
Stephen | 23.11.24 - 9:29 a.m. | #
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The most worrying thing about this is that there must have been lots of witnesses and not a single person did anything.
Someone in that queue would likely have had a dashcam. And I'd be surprised there weren't traffic cameras on the area for monitoring purposes, given the level of disruption being caused.
Once upon a time I'd have done something myself if I witnessed this sort of situation from my car. But now, as an ageing female, less agile than I used to be, if I ever witnessed something like this, I would simply put my hand on the horn and my hazard flashers on, to get people's attention, and then point. Hopefully someone would then do something, even if it was only to film what was happening.
Glad he didn't take your phone, and glad you are OK. If it ever happens again, please tell the police, if only to protect others in the future.
Blue Witch | 23.11.24 - 9:59 a.m. | #
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How shocking, this is the society we live in, he could have had a knife, so lucky it was only a head butt. Best to do and say nothing in these circumstances. glad you are ok.
Rich | 23.11.24 - 10:44 a.m. | #
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Glad to hear your OK and thank you for the detailed account. The video question suggests they've been caught doing something on video before. And you have reported it on 111...haven't you? Or will the travails of your interaction with the Met. Police be the subject of a future post? Don't blame the roadworks. I think motorised transport heightens levels of aggression in all of us!
south london lad | 23.11.24 - 10:48 a.m. | #
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Reporting the whole thing to the police is one possibility. As is choosing not to do that, but putting the whole thing behind you. That choice is DG's alone, and I don't think we should be pushing him either way.
Malcolm of Kent | 23.11.24 - 11:20 a.m. | #
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Sorry to read this sorry tale. Something similar happened to me many years ago but the passenger didn't touch me but threw my bike at me. I did report to the police (classed as a assault) as I had a photo of the car. Hopefully they wrote to the owner of the car which may well make them think next time. Check the car registration number of gov.uk to make sure it's not a cloned number.
Roger Stocker | 23.11.24 - 11:39 a.m. | #
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Oh how awful. So sorry this happened to you and extremely glad it wasn't more serious. My reaction would have been to give them a 'hard stare' too.
Sadly trigger-hair aggression seems to becoming increasingly common these days as lots of youngsters have found to their cost.
Cornish Cockney | 23.11.24 - 12:49 p.m. | #
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So sorry to hear this happened to you, and I echo the other commenters that there are far more people who abhor mindless violence like this than the clowns that are so inadequate in themselves, this is all they can muster when called out on how much of a low life turd they are.
I’m glad to hear that you’re alright.
timdeluxe | 23.11.24 - 2:18 p.m. | #
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What a vivid description of the collision of two world views, and of the awful moments of uncertainly, as the assailant left the car, about was be about to happen.
A prevalent world view seems to be that I can do whatever I like, and whoever calls that into question becomes the vilain. We deviate from that at our peril, it seems.
Like others I am glad to learn that you're "fine" but given how my memories of comparable incidents and near-misses have come back to me reading this, I suggest the impact beneath the surface can be long-lasting.
cau1khead | 23.11.24 - 2:24 p.m. | #
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My most dangerous unsolicited interaction with strangers is when I ask them to remove their feet from the seat in front in train, buses or such. I got threatened and shouted at, but luckily those places are under camera surveillance and people know it. I am pleased to report that most youngsters obtemper/obtemperate.
international reader | 23.11.24 - 2:56 p.m. | #
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Post the numberplate please. My contacts will do the rest.
RYPA | 23.11.24 - 3:58 p.m. | #
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If it's any consolation, he's probably a tiny-minded non-entity with no appreciation of anything beyond his over-pumped biceps. I bet he wouldn't even care that the new tube map has a glaring error.
daveid76 | 23.11.24 - 4:25 p.m. | #
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That kind of situation has occurred to me. It was scary, and the memory remained strong for a while, but I gradually forgot about it.
Bob L-S | 23.11.24 - 4:55 p.m. | #
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There are too many of these antisocial aggresive arrogant cnuts about. I've been in one or two similar situations and reacted or not reacted the way you did - depending on factors such as location, daylight, number of potential aggressors, etc. But the fact remains that if we all look the other way, cnuts like him will rule the public realm.
Frank F | 23.11.24 - 5:30 p.m. | #
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Very sorry to hear about this scary incident and glad you aren't physically hurt, although the upset felt inside from moments like these live on. It's a generational thing I guess, probably has been for everyone before us. There just seems to be such a huge shift in values and public behaviour that makes me despair about the state of things. There is also too much aggression in ordinary folk that would have only been seen once in an ugly few. Anyway, before I drift down the 'old fart ranting ' road I better hush. Glad this wasn't worse for you but the bastards shouldn't win, they really shouldn't.
Anyoldname | 23.11.24 - 6:27 p.m. | #
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I had a mild experience some years ago with a driver who objected to me being on a zebra crossing. He followed me into the library and challenged me up very close before coming to his senses. Police said it'd cost too much to look at the cctv. Now the with two tier policing busy looking at social media posts there's no hope.
Tony | 23.11.24 - 7:46 p.m. | #
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I'm shocked and saddened by your news but glad that you seem to be coping well. Please remember that you have a community here that will support you if you go through any emotional dips in the days and weeks ahead. Best wishes.
DavidC | 23.11.24 - 8:55 p.m. | #
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I'm fine thanks (thanks).
diamond geezer | Homepage | 23.11.24 - 9:01 p.m. | #
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that is awful, I'm so sorry. they really don't like being called out and we really shouldn't stop doing so. but there are risks, unfortunately.
Peter T | 23.11.24 - 9:22 p.m. | #
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I'm sorry to hear this has happened to you. Some people are truly unhinged, and unfortunately, many feel like it's their right to go around and assault others.
Not only did they litter, they also decided to abuse someone they don't know - and they probably think they were in the right, sadly.
All Over 2a | 23.11.24 - 9:41 p.m. | #
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I know it's a hassle and may not feel worth it.. but please report him to the police... at least for littering.
Alistair Twin | 23.11.24 - 10:02 p.m. | #
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If only he’d attacked you via a Tweet.
Kim | 23.11.24 - 10:28 p.m. | #
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You must report this to the police - he is a violent thug and will do something like this again.
Noel | 23.11.24 - 10:42 p.m. | #
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Yes, you're fine it seems. Thank heavens for that.
But I'm afraid I must put my 2 pennies worth in and say you should report this to the police.
The thugs win if you don't.
Chris | 23.11.24 - 11:55 p.m. | #
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The reason for reporting this kind of deeply unpleasant yet mercifully minor incident to the police is not to address it directly, but that otherwise statistics for crime and anti-social behaviour statistics appear better than the situation actually is, which means that tackling it isn't a sufficiently high priority for police or government.
Jack Kirby | 24.11.24 - 12:20 a.m. | #
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Glad to know that you are fine! Hope you've reported it, there must be cameras somewhere close by enough to match your description if reported -- I guess it helps to have such photographic memory and writing as you do in this case.
Please do post the number plate and photo of the man unpixellated. It really is in the public interest for our own safety too. And as you probably know from all the pick up you get on other news sites, important enough people read your blog who will take notice.
matthieu1221 | 24.11.24 - 12:30 a.m. | #
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I was expecting at least one of the 44 comments to have mentioned the strong possibility that the guy was off his tits on steroids.
dg writes: at least one did
swirlythingy | 24.11.24 - 1:52 a.m. | #
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I'm glad to hear you're fine. I can't imagine what sort of temper it takes for someone to think a reasonable reaction to a shrug is a headbutt, but I guess there's a lot of people I don't understand.
martin | 24.11.24 - 7:30 a.m. | #
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Sorry this happened to you, and I did similar when I was younger and could run, but you really have to pick your mark with this kind public service. The type of person who would chuck litter from their car is perhaps not one to tangle with.
Andrew | Homepage | 24.11.24 - 7:57 a.m. | #
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What a distressing experience. I’m glad you’re fine and have taken some time to come to terms with the event, and that you felt able to share it with us.
Michael T | 24.11.24 - 11:43 a.m. | #
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Horrible incident. That horrible nutcase needs to be stopped before he does something worse, as if this is what he does in a busy road during daytime, what would be do in a dark alley?
Mikey C | 24.11.24 - 12:15 p.m. | #
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I’d still report it, cameras flooded around there . Sorry to hear. It’s always after year than you think should have I done they should have I done that should’ve I recorded. In the heat of the moment you’re probably thinking that might make things worse.
Bruce Wayne | 24.11.24 - 6:13 p.m. | #
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Last Christmas a friend of mine was sexually assaulted while working at a party. As I was the first person they told, I was eventually asked to give a witness statement to the police.
When I gave my statement, I mentioned to the officer that my friend was lucky it could have been a much more significant assault. The detective corrected me that all assaults are important, and that reporting is essential for them to be able to respond.
I would always recommend people report these incidents.
Even if you want to be a bigger man than to publish his number plate to your 10k followers or to wait outside at a similar time with a gallon of paint to redecorate his car.
TomH | 24.11.24 - 8:03 p.m. | #
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I was looking to see if the number plate is hidden in the first character of each paragraph, but I can't see it. Maybe it will be in tomorrow's blog
Mike | 25.11.24 - 9:28 a.m. | #
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Just to join everyone is saying I'm so sorry this happened to you.
That this can happen to you is unjust and unacceptable.
Steve
Steve Conway | 25.11.24 - 12:08 p.m. | #
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Properly disgusting. Not worth the time or the effort. Sorry to hear it. Screw them.
Jack31439 | 25.11.24 - 9:27 p.m. | #
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