Road rage woman threatened to kill elderly dog walker after access dispute

Chesterfield magistrates’ court heard on September 12 how Helen Hunt, 32, of Park Street, Ripley, abused the female pensioner as she was walking her dogs near to Mrs Hunt’s home.

Prosecuting solicitor Sarah Haslam said: “The defendant lives on an access-only road and there are issues with people walking dogs along that section of the road and passing the home address of the defendant.

“The day before the offence there was a previous incident with someone walking a dog and that was dealt with separately.

“The following day, on May 21, the complainant was walking along the street at 6.30pm on Park Road, at Ripley, and she sees the defendant.”

The defendant had been driving and was outside her home and told the dog walker she was going to run her over and kill her and also run over her dogs and kill them, according to Mrs Haslam.

A witness who intervened in the dispute revealed that the dog walker was aged in her 80s.

Hunt told police she had been upset and had told the dog walker that she should not be surprised if she or her dogs ended up being run over and it was not a direct threat.

The defendant added that she understood that the complainant had already been told not to walk down the road after the access issue had been previously addressed with the authorities.

Hunt pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour.

Defence solicitor Ande Hunter said Mrs Hunt is of previous good character and the offence was completely out of character.

He explained the road involved is narrow and only allows access to drive to properties but the complainant walks her dogs on the road in a very slow manner.