Thomas Coggins sentenced after bashing elderly former soldier in Coffs Harbour road-rage attack

A brutal unprovoked road-rage attack left an elderly Vietnam veteran and ex-cop – who also has post-traumatic stress and dementia – unable to walk properly, a court has heard.

An enraged Coffs Coast motorist who savagely attacked an elderly ex-police officer and Vietnam veteran without provocation has learned his fate in court.

Thomas Coggins had previously pleaded not guilty in Coffs Harbour Local Court to one count of assault causing actual bodily harm, one count of common assault, one count of driving in a menacing manner and one count of driving dangerously.

The 35-year-old from Coffs Harbour was travelling northbound on the Pacific Highway out of Coffs Harbour on December 3, 2019 when he pulled up behind a 71-year-old man with severe post-traumatic stress after having served in the Vietnam War and being medically discharged from the police force, according to court documents.

Witness statements say Coggins began making rude gestures at the man and his wife, sticking his fingers up at the couple from his Toyota ute before proceeding to sound his horn for minutes at a time.

Over the course of almost 15 kilometres towards Sandy Beach, Coggins aggressively continued to tailgate the man and his wife, repeatedly slowing down and speeding up to the rear of their vehicle and making obscene gestures.

Thomas Coggins leaves Coffs Harbour Courthouse on Wednesday September 14 2022.

In an attempt to “avoid this idiot”, the man attempted to turn off at the Emerald Beach exit, only to find Coggins veer late and follow him onto the off-ramp, towards Emerald Heights Drive, according to police documents.

Despite the victim pulling over to avoid being followed, Coggins stopped his vehicle and got out, yelling “f**k you” at the man and his wife.

Coggins punched the man in the chest, before being asked “stop, you’re fighting a 72 year old man, I’ve just had surgery to my arm and shoulder and have rods in my back”.

“I couldn’t give a f**k,” Coggins responded.

Coggins punched the victim several more times, laying him out on the ground by the side of the road and causing a loud crack to be heard from the back of his skull, according to witness documents.

In the aftermath of the incident the victim was unable to use his right arm or walk properly, according to court documents.

In sentencing submissions, Coggins was characterised by magistrate Julie Virgo as a Rural Fire Service volunteer with no significant violent record for whom this was out of character.

Police documents show that before and after the offending, Coggins shared a meme on Facebook relating to being frustrated by elderly drivers on the road.

He was convicted and sentenced to a 12-month community corrections order and 100 hours’ community service as well as a 12 month licence disqualification and an $880 fine.