Moment council binman punches naked cyclist on charity ride off his bike after mistaking him for a ‘pervert’

The moments when an illegal binman encountered a naked cyclist cycling on the streets in front of families during a ‘charity trip’ were caught on camera.

Lee Turnage, 46, walked free from court last week after attacking the man on his motorbike, then attacking two police officers who came to arrest him at a local pub, one of whom required hospital treatment.

Video footage released by the Crown Prosecution Service shows his victim cycling down a residential street in Colchester, Essex, on August 9.

Unbeknownst to Turnage, he was attending a World Naked Bike Tour event when he was approached by the speeding motorcyclist.

In the footage, Turnage can be seen standing level with his victim, delivering a powerful punch, knocking him to the pavement and walking away before stopping.

Municipal employee Turnage was sentenced to a total of 14 months in prison, suspended for two years.

Ipswich Crown Court heard Turnage thought men cycling were ‘perverts’.

Mitigating, Steven Dyble said the offenses were out of character for Turnage, who had no previous convictions other than traffic offenses he committed in France in the 1990s.

Lee Turnage, 46, walked free from court last week after attacking the man and two police officers who came to arrest him on his motorbike.

He said: ‘He came across a row of middle-aged men riding naked bikes.

‘This is not to the defendant’s taste, but to use the vernacular, he reacted very badly to the idea of ​​perverts cycling naked through a residential area.’

But prosecutor Charles Judge said Turnage, who was riding his motorbike without insurance, initially passed the cyclists before turning around and carrying out the attack.

His Honor said: ‘Fortunately, although pain interrupts us, [the victim’s] ‘By scraping his legs, arm and hand, he did not hit his head, which could have caused more serious injuries, bearing in mind the force with which he was struck.’

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

As a result of the attack, one of the officers required medical treatment and had part of his ear glued back on.

Another cyclist sent footage of the incident to police and officers later went to The Leather Bottle pub and found Turnage’s helmet and backpack.

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

Turnage’s victim was punched off his bike and fell to the ground while trying to raise money for charity on August 9 this year.

City worker Turnage was sentenced earlier this month to a total of 14 months in prison, suspended for two years.

Turnage then attacked one of the officers, putting him in a headlock, kicking him in the stomach and damaging his glasses.

A second officer attempted to restrain Turnage as onlookers, including children, watched.

His Honor said: ‘PC Jenny Ham was taken to the ground and expressed fears for her and her colleague’s safety.

‘Other officers attended and saw PC Charlie Jones being treated for a lacerated ear; his ear was glued on to repair this particular damage.’

In a victim impact statement read to Ipswich Crown Court, the charity cyclist wrote: ‘This was a charity cycle ride; This has never happened to me while participating in the numerous rides I have completed.

‘I have difficulty sleeping because of the pain in my leg; There is no relief and it won’t go away.

‘The injuries I sustained affected me a lot, especially in terms of my mobility.

‘Because of the pain I have more confidence in a club and put more weight on it.

‘My leg remains swollen to this day, which means I have to keep it as high as possible. Some days it feels like the pain will never end.

‘The friends I see spend time looking at me; ‘They are now more like caregivers than friends.’

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

He also pleaded guilty to two charges of actual bodily harm.

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

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

He also had his license revoked for driving offenses and was ordered to pay a further £200 fine.

Turnage, who worked part-time as a sweeper for Colchester Council, was given a suspended sentence because of his previous good character and responsibilities to his grandmother.

He declined to comment when reached by the Daily Mail at his home in Colchester.