A BRIGHTON restaurant owner has been jailed for 12 months after CCTV footage captured the moment he deliberately rear-ended a motorcycle.

Mario Bove, 63 year, injured both the 26-year-old rider and 20-year-old pillion passenger by crashing into the back of their Honda Fireblade on Brighton’s Eastern Road on June 27 last year.

He fled the scene in his silver Mercedes C320 but his number plate fell off, enabling police to trace him.

The rider also recognised him as the owner of a restaurant.

The incident followed a verbal altercation over the manner of Bove’s driving, according to Sussex Police.

Bove pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and two counts of assault causing actual bodily harm, at Lewes Crown Court on June 26 this year.

Mario Bove

He was disqualified from driving immediately upon conviction pending sentencing, only to later be spotted driving the same vehicle through the city.

Police tracked him down and charged with driving while disqualified and without insurance.

Bove was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment and disqualified from driving for 30 months at Lewes Crown Court on October 27. He must also take an extended retest to regain his licence.

Brighton Investigations Team officer Rose Horan 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 has chosen not to be identified, 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.”