“I believe that the through road to pass the stadium is closed at match times but the road to the JJB and other local businesses remains open.

I play football at JJB and have been stuck in the traffic around the stadium at match times, so I understand the frustrations- I understand your comment about pedestrians having right of way once they have begun crossing the road and whilst my comment was flippant my arguement does stand up.
The section of road still open to the businesses carries a 40 mph speed limit changing sometime after the island outside the stadium, your arguement that the law is on the pedestrians side is flawed because as a pedestrian you cannot decide to just enter the road in front of a moving car and then when struck claim that you have the right of way, the pedestrian has to wait until a sensible time to cross. Also as the pedestrians walk three deep on the road to the stadium does that mean that they have right of way and the car cannot pass until they decide that they want to get back onto the pavement?
As a resposible pedestrian / person if the cars exist is clear you have to stop, as a motorist in that position are you saying they should wait until thousands of people have crossed the road? Imagine for one moment the gridlock that would cause around Derby at match time? Do you think that is acceptable?
What about when the pedestrians walk around the parked buses in the roadway?
I do not condone his actions as I put on the post but equally you cannot condone the actions of the 'victim' - If he hadn't decided to slap or tap the window do you think we would be commenting on this now?
Sorry if you think I am being pedantic but a little more consideration from match goers would result in incidents like this never happening.



Possible multiposts (again! Due to error message)”

“After a game the streets around Pride Park are actually closed by the Police due to the large volume of people leaving the stadium on foot - therefore pedestrians don't walk on the pavements. Given the location of the incident I'd guess this squaddie had parked in JJB and then got a bit miffed when he realised that he'd have to wait for the crowd to subside before he could get out - so he was trying to bust his way through the crowd with aggressive and dangerous driving.

The law actually says that if a pedestrian is already in the road then a driver must give them right of way - so your argument (and yes I do realise you were trying to be clever) doesn't stand up.

At the end of the day - some guy tapped on his car to alert the driver that his actions weren't being appreciated - he had no intent to damage the car. Did he deserve to be knocked unconcious? Of course not. Newton needs to learn some self-control. His actions are those of a pathetic coward. What chance do we stand in a war if we have soldiers with impulse control this bad?”

“I was there in the crowd after that game - the street outside the ground was full of pedestrians as it always is immediately after the game, and this guy was driving impatitently and nearly hitting children.

Rob, Derby.

Sorry Rob I retract everything I said in my previous post - I obviously didn't realise that this guy was driving impatitently on the pavement!

How can he nearly hit children or anyone for that matter if they are walking on the pavement and acting as they should on a busy road?
(please note I am still not condoning his actions after the event)”

“I was there in the crowd after that game - the street outside the ground was full of pedestrians as it always is immediately after the game, and this guy was driving impatitently and nearly hitting children.

Rob, Derby.

Sorry Rob I retract everything I said in my previous post - I obviously didn't realise that this guy was driving impatitently on the pavement!

How can he nearly hit children or anyone for that matter if they are walking on the pavement and acting as they should on a busy road?
(please note I am still not condoning his actions after the event)”

“what has the status, i dont think the guys from derby got to do ,with the incident, so what if he is from notts, he was at the game to see ,a guy he knows,play for coventry, as i stated earlier, the guy was most likley provoked, an armed forces guy is,trained to keep his cool, how many off the injured guys mates were there,at the time, why was he not arrested for crimminal damage,or with attempt,to a motor vehicle, and an achy elbow,is not the same ,as a squady off 19 ,shot to bits, or a child losing a father in battle. sorry ,like i say donate the award to help for heros,and think off some of the poor service ,men an women,who are suffering with lot more,than a dented elbow and pride,and i think the recorder must have let ,their anti war personal thoughts interfear,they had no right to quote a scenerio,from a military opperation, unless they are a military consul;”

“Can't believe that people are sticking up for this animal! I was there in the crowd after that game - the street outside the ground was full of pedestrians as it always is immediately after the game, and this guy was driving impatitently and nearly hitting children. If he had nearly hit my child then I would have banged on his roof too. The fact he then thought it acceptable to get out the car and punch someone unconscious shows just what kind of a man he must be. Sounds like he got of lightly - maybe the judge thought being sent to Afghanistan was punishment enough. Perhaps Karma will have the final say”

“There's enough for a driver to contend with in the vicinity post-match without having folks banging on your windows too!

Whilst I think Marson's actions were inadvisable, it should be borne in mind he *didn't* use enough force to break the window and, as such, the ensuing violence from a trained fighter was completely over-the-top and the soldier has rightly been punished.

As for the amount of compensation.. whilst Marson may consider it a 'small amount' perhaps when he considers Newton has to risk his live in theatres of war for a month to earn that amount then the sum is better received and the trauma suffered by the daughter who witnessed this attack is something Marson should have considered before he took it upon himself to start banging on cars.

Let's hope all concerned learn the lessons from this unfortunate event.”

“Sorry but I tend to agree with Micky on this one, I cannot and will not condone violence but you just cannot be allowed to bang on someones car window without expect some sort of retort.
I, along with many on this forum have been stuck in traffic near the ground while people waltz across the road in front of me and walk three deep on the road. It is really annoying when you need to be somewhere and people are displaying complete disregard for the road or the motorists on it. Do you really expect the motorists to wait until hundreds of people have finished crossing the road or running in front of vehicles?
I do not know if you display this disregard Phil and the attack was not necessary but it was not without provocation.

Anyway, to quote this paragraph:

Giving the 24-year-old a 12-month community order, Recorder Sally Hancox told Newton: "If someone throws a stone at you in Sangin or someone shouts abuse in the street and you react in that way, all hell could break loose."

I'd like to see this recorder display the same bravery displayed by this individual to be on any street in said country. Sleep easy in your bed Sally, remember that potentially in April Mr Newton may be acting in a different way all together.

Still at least NEXT year he may be back in Afgan saving the lives of our hero's...........”

“come on ,if the driver off the car,had been an OAP, or some dwalf, you would have laughed at him, or a sweet little old lady,you go round banging on car windows after,a footy game,your asking for trouble,what if you had smashed the window, i think you got your reward,as the guys a marine, you lucky he was not a para,i think you should donate the compo,to help for heroes , these guys face death every day an night ,when on dutys, they do not deserve to have their car windows thumped,when on leave,so what if he is from arnold,”

“As you can see,I am the injured party in this story.I would like to say,I don't think my attacker was a Rams fan,as he and his passengers were from Notts,and they were there to see a friend of theirs play for Coventry!
Even now I don't remember ANYTHING about the attack and I am still suffering pains in my elbow as a result.
I think £1000 compo is a small amount considering the pain and trauma I,and my daughter,have gone through!
Still,my season ticket for NEXT season is paid for!!!”