Peter Clifton spared jail after “seeing red” in road-rage incident

A motorcyclist who chased his victim to her home and assaulted her in a shocking road-rage incident has been spared jail.

Peter Griffith Clifton leaving the Geelong Magistrates Court.

A motorcyclist who chased his victim to her home, assaulted her and damaged her car in a terrifying road-rage attack has been spared jail.

Peter Griffith Clifton, 57, was convicted and sentenced to a 12-month community corrections order in Geelong Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Clifton pleaded guilty to property damage and assault charges stemming from an incident in Lara on July 24, last year.

The court heard Clifton, a truck driver by trade, was riding his motorbike along Windermere Rd in Lara when he pulled over to the side of the road to let his victim overtake him in her car.

After he was overtaken, the court heard that Clifton accelerated after the woman and then, once alongside, used his left arm to hit her vehicle.

The court was told that Clifton then followed the victim to her home after she became distressed and accelerated away.

Clifton confronted the woman in her driveway and yelled abuse at her, the court heard.

Clifton placed his helmet on her vehicle and grabbed the victim’s collar, and the two “grappled together”.

The court heard the victim then fled into her garage and was followed by Clifton, who kicked her.

During the attack, Clifton used his motorcycle helmet to smash both side view mirrors on the victim’s car.

The court was told the victim did not suffer any physical injuries during the attack, but was psychologically affected.

The event was captured by both the victim’s doorbell security camera and a witness, who called police.

Clifton’s lawyer, Ryan Robertson, told the court his client had “effectively seen red” and said he acknowledged he acted “completely inappropriately”.

Mr Robertson told the court Clifton had reacted impulsively after perceiving the victim’s overtake to be dangerous. that he had been advised Clifton’s son had been with him at the time, on his dirt bike.

Mr Robertson said 2022 had been a particularly stressful year for Clifton, due to an unrelated court matter involving one of his adult sons.

Mr Robertson argued his client’s prospects for rehabilitation were positive, and that he was undergoing mental health treatment.

In sentencing Clifton, magistrate Simon Guthrie said his actions were “unbelievable” and “beyond unacceptable”.

Mr Guthrie said the victim was a “completely innocent person” who now felt “fear in her own home” and both her ability to sleep and mental health had been affected by the incident.

Mr Guthrie acknowledged Clifton had pleaded guilty at an early stage, sought mental health treatment and had shown evidence of remorse.

Clifton was also instructed to pay $300 for the damage to the victim’s car.

Originally published as Peter Clifton spared jail after “seeing red” in road-rage incident