Will I be arrested?

[Anon4216]

Hi everyone, I've never posted on here before but I'm terrified I'm going to be arrested. Today I went to my local Tesco and the car behind me in the car park overtook me (at speed) and drove the wrong way round the car park to park, and whilst doing so cut up another car.

For some stupid reason I parked my car then went over to his (he was still sitting in his car) - i hovered by his window for a few mins and he didn't notice me so for some stupid reason I opened his door. Obviously I should have knocked on the window. I asked him if he was trying to cause an accident, this led into a loud debate in the car park. I walked off into Tesco and he stayed by his car. He then came into Tesco and started screaming at me, I shouted back to just go away - this went on for a minute or 2.

THe Tesco staff then asked him to leave and he did. After I left he was standing by his car on his phone and I'm now terrified that he was calling the police (and would have my registration number).

Can I be arrested for this? Obviously I shouldn't have opened his door. I'm so terrified. I'm also 18 weeks pregnant so I'm a bit overly hormonal. I wouldn't ever normally do something like that but I was so angry I had to say something. Obviously I wish I hadn't now :( he was quite young (early - mid 20s I'd guess) and driving a boy racer type car. Not that any of that makes any difference. Thanks for any advice x

Anon you want to read-think your attitude here.

He was in the wrong for his driving.
And he shouldn't have started a co from ration in Tescos.

But you need to appreciate that you acted in an aggressive and unwise manner. Hence your current angst.

I work in law enforcement. AFAIK, opening someone's car door is not a crime. But it sounds like what he did - following you into the supermarket and screaming at you - would be considered an offence under section 4 of the Public Order Act - using threatening words or behaviour with the intention of causing another person harassment, alarm or distress. The fact that you were a lone, pregnant female would be considered aggravating factors, which would lead to a harsher sentence if he was convicted of this in court. So you would actually be perfectly justified in reporting him to the police, not the other way round.

Please stop worrying

Hariasa - I've said at least twice that I realise I was wrong - so Thankyou for pointing it out but I am aware!

Thankyou, that's really helpful

I asked him if he was trying to cause an accident, this led into a loud debate in the car park. "

More likely both would be spoken to ref public order.

Next time don't take it upon yourself to march up to someone and start berating them...then you wouldn't be worrying.

Pretty sure he wouldn't want to involve the police in this though

We need more people like you who are willing to challenge these stupid fuckers, not fewer. If I had my way, the car park behaviour alone would merit a 10-year driving ban. In my ideal world, I would have punctured his tyres on the spot to stop him driving away, until the police turned up to arrest him. However I know that it would not be sensible, because it would be far easier to prosecute me for criminal damage than it would be to prosecute him for being a twat. So I see where you're coming from with the fear of being done for opening the door: it happens (mostly in Daily Fail land, admittedly) that the good guy is prosecuted for some technicality while the bad guy smiles as they walk free.

Once upon a time, if a teenager dropped litter (I know the thread's not about teenagers), an adult might challenge them. Nowadays a sensible adult would pretend they didn't see, because they're afraid of being stabbed, or "happy slapped".

Many people will give you the advice that you shouldn't have done it for your own safety, which is true in a way. But this fear of retribution is the reason there's so much petty disorder: they think they will get away with it, because no one will dare to challenge them, and they know that bobbies on the beat who might arrest them on the spot are long gone.

So let's all put on our bullet proof vests and stand up to the idiots!

That was crazy when you are pregnant what if he had attacked you. If you are very concerned and anxious you could contact 101 yourself regarding the incident.

MIL sits in the car waiting for someone to open it for her. She stands by it too waiting to get in. Hopes the police will arrest me one visit for leaving her there

MrsHam13 yes I realise it was silly but it was broad daylight and there were about 20 other cars around with people in and out so I wasn't particularly worried about being attached. Clearly it wasn't my most sensible idea and I am totally aware of that. I'm just worried about the police knocking on my door now.

Attacked not attached

I disagree that both parties would be spoken to re. public order. OP stood politely by his window for a few minutes while he ignored her (I'm not buying that he didn't see her). She then opened his door and, quite reasonably considering how he had just been driving, asked if he was trying to cause an accident. And I agree with wanderings here, we need more people standing up to dickish behaviour, not fewer. This escalated into a loud debate - obviously I don't know what was said or by whom, but from the rest of the scenario I'm guessing the escalation was due to this man's reaction, rather than being the fault of the OP. She intended to point out that he had been driving irresponsibly, not to have a screaming match in Tescos car park. I don't think many people, never mind pregnant women, would want that. OP walked away. He followed her and verbally abused her. That's not ok.

There will be CCTV of this man in the car park and in the store, plus there were numerous eyewitnesses. I think that OP's behaviour was reasonable and proportionate, whereas this man's behaviour most definitely was not. From what I've read, I really don't think the OP has any reason whatsoever to worry.

I've spoken to one who knows and the response is:

On what has been described, yes, it was a silly act on your part in respect of your own personal safety, BUT, you have committed NO OFFENCE.

With regard to him following you into the store his actions could well be deemed as 'Conduct Likely to Cause a Breach of the Peace' for which he could be arrested.

The only time you could be liable is if you had damaged his vehicle or assaulted him.

The whole incident is likely to have been captured on Tesco CCTV which will support your version of events in the unlikely event of any police involvement. Furthermore you had store employees as witnesses and they asked him to leave which would confirm his 'Conduct Likely...' behaviour.

Stop panicking but in future do not confront twats.

I've written that verbatim!

Thankyou so much

My DH is a retired cop. He says you have not broken the law. Relax, the curlies have better things to do than arrest irate pregnant women OP!

Thankyou!