A Massachusetts man has been sentenced to two years in prison for assaulting a woman and attempting to run her over with his vehicle after she did not respond to his morning greeting. Ian Atkinson, 33, was found guilty of assault and battery and assault with a dangerous weapon by Superior Court Judge Michael Doolin following a three-day bench trial, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office reported.
The incident occurred around 9 a.m. on July 13, 2023, when police were called to the woman’s residence on Balsam Street in Dorchester. The victim reported that she was tending to her plants in her yard when an unknown man, later identified as Atkinson, passed by and made an offensive remark about her not responding to his greeting.
The woman began recording Atkinson with her cellphone as he entered a nearby black Mercedes. Atkinson then exited the vehicle and launched an attack on the woman, punching her repeatedly in the face and throwing her against a fence, according to the prosecution.
The victim managed to fend off Atkinson by biting him. He then returned to his vehicle and drove it in her direction, narrowly missing her before fleeing the scene.
Upon arrival, police found the victim bleeding from a broken nose and with bruises on her head and face. Detectives were able to identify Atkinson through the video footage and discovered he had been wearing a GPS monitor due to a previous arrest. He was apprehended a few days later.
Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden praised the victim’s courage in a statement. He highlighted her quick thinking to record the incident and her brave testimony, which provided crucial evidence leading to the judge’s decision.
Following his prison term, Atkinson will be placed on probation for two years.