Somerset man with history of dodgy driving jailed for "horrific" road rage attack
Francesco Ippolito from Bleadon crushed a man with his van after his wing mirror was clipped last summer
A van driver from North Somerset with a history of careless driving, who used his vehicle to crush another man after losing his temper, has been sentenced to nearly ten years in prison.
Francesco Ippolito from Bleadon pinned the victim against another vehicle with his Volkswagen Transporter in June last year.
He was already known to the police, having been convicted of causing the death of a man by careless driving in 2009.
During this most recent incident the 37-year-old Ippolito fled the scene, leaving his victim with fractured legs and a broken pelvis.
Ahead of sentencing, the victim made clear the “huge impact” the violent act had on his family.
“I am unable to go out of the house unaided or play with my children," he said.
"I am angry, upset and I constantly struggle with pain.
“This was over a broken wing mirror and this incident has ruined my life.”
Ippolito crushed his victim after another van hit his wing mirror on Banwell Road outside Weston-Super-Mare on 1 June 2022.
Ippolito then confronted the driver and two other men before getting back behind the wheel to drive into one of them.
The victim has had multiple operations since, as a result of what Judge William Hart called “extreme violence”.
Ippolito initially denied the charge of Grievous Bodily Harm but changed his plea to guilty just two weeks before the trial was meant to take place in February.
Sentencing him last Thursday (6 April), the Judge told Ippolito that he was “motivated by covering your tracks”.
Ippolito has now been classed a dangerous offender and will remain on licence for a further period of five years when he’s eventually released from prison.
Detective Sergeant Rachel Walls has called the event “a horrifying assault and the sentence given to Ippolito reflects how awful it was.
“Our thoughts remain with the victim and his family as the continue to live with and overcome the injuries sustained in the incident.”