Nude charity cyclist says ‘pain never ends’ after being punched off bike

This is the shocking moment a rogue binman mistook a naked cyclist taking part in a charity event for a ‘pervert’ and punched him off his bike.

The footage shows the victim cycling along a residential street when Lee Turnage, 46, rides up alongside him.

The cyclist, who was riding in a World Naked Bike Ride event, was punched by Turnage, who works part-time as a binman for Colchester Council, and hit the pavement in Colchester, Essex, on August 9.

Turnage was sentenced to 14 months in prison – suspended for two years earlier this month.

Ipswich Crown Court heard that Turnage thought the men cycling in the buff were ‘perverts’.

Steven Dyble, mitigating, said the offences were out of character for Turnage, who had no previous convictions except for traffic offences he committed in France in the 1990s.

He said: ‘He encountered a number of middle-aged men cycling in the nude.

‘That is not to the defendant’s taste, but he reacted very badly to what he thought of, to use the vernacular, as perverts cycling naked in what was a residential area.’

Charles Judge, prosecuting, said Turnage, who was riding his uninsured motorbike, had turned around and ridden back to commit the assault.

Mr Judge said: ‘Fortunately, although suffering cuts to [the victim’s] legs, grazing to his hands, arm, and hand, bearing in mind the force at which he was struck, he did not strike his head which would have caused more serious injuries.’

In a victim impact statement read to Ipswich Crown Court the cyclist wrote: ‘This was a charity bike ride – nothing like this has ever happened to me when taking part in the numerous rides I have completed.

‘I have been struggling with sleep because of the pain in my leg – there is no let-up in it and it won’t go away.

‘The injuries sustained have impacted me greatly, especially in regard to my mobility.

‘I am more reliant on a stick and putting more weight through it because of the pain.

‘My leg remains swollen to this day, meaning I need to keep it elevated as pouch as possible. Some days it feels like that pain will never end.

‘Friends I do see spend time looking after me – they have become more like carers than friends.’

Turnage was also found with a knife and attacked two police officers who tried to arrest him outside The Leather Bottle pub in Colchester.

One of the officers needed medical treatment so that part of his ear could be glued back on as a result of the attack.

Another cyclist sent footage of the push to police. Officers later attended The Leather Bottle pub and found a helmet and backpack belonging to Turnage.

When the officer seized the items, Turnage approached them and said: ‘You’re not taking that.’

Turnage then attacked one of the officers, putting them in a headlock, kicking them in the abdomen and damaging their glasses.

A second officer tried to restrain Turnage while onlookers, including children, watched on.

Mr Judge said: ‘PC Jenny Ham was taken to the floor and described being terrified for her safety and her colleague.

‘Other officers attended and saw PC Charlie Jones being attended to because his ear was torn – his ear was glued to repair that particular damage.’

Turnage, of Colchester, admitted one charge each of dangerous driving, driving without insurance, criminal damage and assaulting a police officer.

He also admitted two charges of actual bodily harm.

Recorder Jeremy Benson sentenced Turnage to a total of 14 months in prison, suspended for two years on Monday, November 10.

Turnage was ordered to carry out 15 rehabilitation days, 75 hours of unpaid work and pay £2,000 in compensation to the cyclist.

He also had his licence revoked for the driving offences and was ordered to pay a further £200 fine.

Turnage was given a suspended jail term because of his previous good character and caring responsibilities for his grandmother.

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