Magistrates have ruled a Suffolk teenager guilty of making his own kind of young driver car insurance claim - with his fists.
James Clifford was pronounced guilty of actual bodily harm after exacting bloody retribution on another young driver, Mitchell Spink. Clifford thought Spink was responsible for damage done to his Fiat Punto on January 9th this year.
On January 11th, both men were driving a popular circuit around Ipswich city centre known as the 'double Ds'. Spink's Honda Civic became boxed in, and Clifford, accompanied by his girlfriend Tanisha Preston, seized his opportunity to settle the score.
It is alleged that Clifford approached the Honda and, without saying anything, punched Spink five times through an open window. The attack left his upper lip so badly split it required stitches.
Speaking in his defence, Clifford accepted that he had approached the other car, but claimed he had only done so to see if Spink was hurt after another man attacked him.
Though revenge may have brought James Clifford momentary satisfaction, it's no substitute for the financial help claiming on a good young driver car insurance policy can provide. And a criminal conviction will make it much harder for him to find a cheap car insurance quote in future.
Fortunately for other young drivers, Mr Spink will be seeking compensation though the usual channels.