Mike Van Erp (left) ended up on the front of a car driven by Paul Lyon-Maris (right) in London (Picture: PA)
A theatrical agent who became ‘enraged’ when he was stopped driving on the wrong side of the road later became ‘intimidated’ after a cyclist ‘jumped’ on his car bonnet.
Paul Lyon-Maris, who has represented actors Colin Firth and Sir Ian McKellen, ended up with 50-year-old Mike Van Erp on the front of his Range Rover, a court has heard.
The cyclist, known for catching celebrities breaking road laws on his CyclingMikey Youtube channel, had tried to stop the agent, 60, at the outer circle of Regent’s Park, London on September 9 last year.
Mr Van Erp has previously filmed the likes of ex-boxer Chris Eubank and film director Guy Ritchie on London’s roads.
In relation to this incident with Mr Lyon-Maris, the cyclist claimed the 60-year-old had been on the wrong side of the road.
Southwark Crown Court heard an incident soon followed which saw Mr Van Erp cling on as he was carried on the bonnet until the vehicle came to a stop about 20 yards around a corner.
Giving evidence on Tuesday, the Dutch national, who was born in Zimbabwe, said he gained ‘notoriety’ after broadcaster Jeremy Vine retweeted one of his videos of him on the bonnet of a silver Mercedes.
Mr Van Erp said the stretch of road the incident took place at was nicknamed ‘Gandalf Corner’.
Paul Lyon-Maris is accused of dangerous driving and common assault after he allegedly drove at cycling activist Mr Van Erp (Picture: PA)
‘Ironically, (Lyon-Maris) was the agent of Sir Ian McKellen, who was Gandalf,’ Mr Van Erp told jurors.
He said he had stepped out in front of Lyon-Maris, a director at Independent Talent Group, which boasts clients including James Bond star Daniel Craig, 54, and The X-Files actress Gillian Anderson, 54.
The cyclist said he fell on to the bonnet ‘like a crash test dummy’ when his car was driven at him before stopping, then hitting him a second time, knocking off his GoPro camera.
Mr Van Erp said he lifted up his legs to avoid being dragged underneath the car, while clinging on to the vehicle and still holding his selfie stick, before the car turned the corner, coming to a stop about 20 yards after the junction.
Lyon-Maris, from Belsize Park, north-west London, denies dangerous driving and common assault.
Michael Van Erp has had previous encounters with high-profile celebrities (Picture: PA)
He admits ignoring a keep left sign – an offence for which he has been separately prosecuted – while on his way to a physiotherapy appointment with his partner of 33 years, Robin Muir.
Giving evidence, he said he had not heard of Mr Van Erp, who stepped out in front of his car carrying a selfie stick.
‘Being met with this rather intimidating figure, I just came up with something I thought might calm the situation and said, “I’m on my way to a doctor’s appointment”,’ he said.
‘I said it specifically because I thought it was calming to say to somebody who has just stepped out in front of you, waving their arms about and having a stick.
‘He then, with his stick, banged it on the windscreen, and before I knew it, he was on my bonnet.’The agent added that the cyclist’s fingers were ‘hooked’ on the front of the car.
‘It was a potentially aggressive and dangerous man on my bonnet and I thought the safest option was to move slowly forward into a road which had plenty of space and try to avoid anything else that might occur’ he added.
The trial continues.
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Paul Lyon, who has represented actors Colin Firth and Sir Ian McKellen, ended up with 50-year-old Mike Van Erp on the front of his car, a court has heard.
