COUNTY NEWS: Restaurateur jailed after hitting a motorbike with his Mercedes

Mario Bove, 63, of Eastern Road, Brighton, admitted dangerous driving and two counts of assault causing actual bodily harm at Lewes Crown Court on June 26 earlier this year, police said. This followed a hit-and-run incident at Eastern Road, Brighton, in June last year. Sussex Police said: "Mario Bove struck the rear of the black Honda with his silver Mercedes in Eastern Road, at the junction of Church Place, on the afternoon of June 27 2016. "The incident followed a verbal altercation between the parties involving the manner of Bove’s driving. "He then made off from the scene, leaving the rider – a local man then aged 26 – and his pillion passenger – a local woman then aged 20 – with minor injuries. "The incident, which happened on the eastbound carriageway, was captured on CCTV. "The motorcyclist recognised Bove as the owner of a restaurant in Brighton, and he was further identified through his front number plate which fell off his vehicle following the collision." Police said Bove was disqualified from driving immediately upon conviction pending sentencing, which was adjourned until a later date, but on September 13, Bove was spotted driving the same vehicle through the city. He was located and arrested in Eastern Road, and charged with driving while disqualified and driving without insurance, police said. Rose Horan of the Brighton Investigations Team said: “The motorcyclist and his young passenger, both local to Brighton, were lucky not to sustain very serious injury, as both were knocked into the path of oncoming traffic by Bove’s silver Mercedes, on what was quite a busy afternoon. “After the incident, Bove immediately sped off down Rock Street, narrowly avoiding a car travelling in the opposite direction, but leaving his number plate behind on the road, which led to his arrest.” The motorcyclist, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: “More than a year since the hit-and-run, we are both still suffering from our injuries and our mental state of mind. It has changed both mine and my girlfriend’s way of life, and even our day-to-day activities are affected; we have lost out on our hobbies such as swimming, long walks and motorcycle rides. It has also put pressure on our relationship. “Bove showed no remorse, leaving the scene of the collision without a care in the world. We could have been dead or at least dying, and he wouldn’t even have known the consequences of his actions. He hit us off the bike on purpose to hurt us, and he achieved his goal. In doing so, he has jeopardised his own time and life with his own family, and his own business. "Brighton and Hove Police have stood by me and my girlfriend every step of the way, with regular contact to see how we are getting on. We’d both like to thank the police, the medical support and bystanders for their work and caring.”