Motorcyclist says driver hit him with a mallet

A man is standing trial in Edinburgh today, accused of hitting a motorcyclist on the head with a rubber mallet in a random attack at a set of traffic lights.

Bernard Docherty is alleged to have driven his 4×4 into the side of motorcyclist Paul Wisdom’s motorcycle, trapping the rider’s leg between the footpeg and the side step of the off-road vehicle, before setting about him with the mallet.

Wisdom managed to free his leg and rode away from the traffic lights, but Docherty gave chase and knocked Wisdom and his pillion Shaun Leonard off the motorcycle, the rider claims. The 4×4 driver then drove over the rider’s arm and leg, before driving off.

Wisdom claims the incident started when Docherty began threatening him for no good reason at a junction on Strachan Road, in the Blackhall area of Edinburgh, while he was giving a friend a lift to a party.