Road rage escalates to assault: Former Ipswich local rear-ends and punches driver for beeping their horn at him

A driver has faced court for a shocking attack on a motorist at an Ipswich intersection.

Former Ipswich resident Matthew Charter faced court on Tuesday for rear-ending and assaulting a driver who beeped their horn at him.

Charter pleaded guilty in Ipswich Magistrate’s Court to one count of assault occasioning bodily harm and one count of failing to comply with the duties of a driver involved in a crash.

The court heard that on October, 6, 2021 near Tivoli, Charter merged lanes behind the other driver involved, who then beeped his horn at him.

Due to this “perceived slight,” Charter then rear-ended the other driver as they approached a red light.

Charter then left his vehicle, approached the other driver and punched him three or four times in the face.

The victim suffered soft tissue damage to his face, lacerations to the inside of his top lip, and two of his top front teeth were bent backwards.

The police prosecutor described Charter’s actions as “disproportionate” given only minor damage was incurred against the vehicles involved.

“It was violence; it was unnecessary,” she continued. “He could have disengaged from the road rage incident that was happening at the time, but chose to follow the victim.”

Charter has a history of similar charges – including counts of common assault, assault occasioning bodily harm, public nuisance and robberies with violence.

The court heard that only one of these offences had occurred since 2010, in which Charter responded violently to a perceived mistreatment of his dog in 2019.

“It’s clear from his history that there’s an issue of anger management,” said Charter’s defence lawyer, Matthew Fairclough.

Charter has also received ongoing treatment for anxiety and depression after previous offences in 2009.

He has resided in Chinchilla since divorcing his wife.

For the count of assault occasioning bodily harm, Charter was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment and immediate release on parole.

“The use of violence solves nothing and, particularly in traffic situations, creates fear for people,” said Magistrate David Shepherd.

“This was a completely unnecessary response to what had happened.”

For the second charge, Charter was convicted and not further punished.