Shocking footage has emerged of two thugs laughing as they filmed themselves mowing down a cyclist, just days before carrying out a separate attack on an NHS worker. Patrick James, 22, was implicated in the first attack when a car he was in deliberately struck cyclist Julian Ford, causing severe injuries. The disturbing video was discovered on James’ phone during an investigation into him and his accomplice, Phillip Adams, 26, for a subsequent hit-and-run incident. In the second attack, NHS worker Katungua Tjitendero was struck by a vehicle driven by James and Adams, resulting in grave injuries including a broken nose, fractured leg, and facial wounds.
At Bristol Crown Court, James and Adams were convicted of conspiracy to cause intentional grievous bodily harm for the attack on Mr. Tjitendero, with James also found guilty of intentional GBH for the assault on Mr. Ford. Detective Superintendent Mike Buck of Avon and Somerset Police condemned the attacks as “absolutely sickening” and highlighted the chilling nature of the crimes. CCTV footage captured the moment Mr. Tjitendero was unexpectedly struck from behind by a blue Honda car as he walked towards a bus stop after finishing his shift at Southmead Hospital. The impact left him with devastating injuries, requiring emergency medical treatment.
Investigations revealed that James had acquired the blue Honda Accord involved in the collision on July 16, 2020, just days before the attacks. Further evidence, including Adams’s DNA inside the car and CCTV footage of James using the vehicle, linked the duo to both incidents. James had filmed the initial hit-and-run on Mr. Ford on July 12, 2020, in Lawrence Weston, Bristol, demonstrating a pattern of reckless behavior.
While James was found guilty of intentionally causing GBH to Mr. Ford, Adams, who did not appear in court, was tried and convicted in absentia for the charges relating to Mr. Tjitendero. The sentencing for the pair is scheduled for Monday. Two other men, Jordan McCarthy, 22, and Daniel Whereatt, 51, who denied charges of conspiracy to cause GBH to Mr. Tjitendero, were acquitted by the jury. The heinous acts committed by these individuals have sparked outrage and concern within the community and law enforcement agencies, underscoring the need for swift justice to be served to ensure the safety and well-being of all members of society.