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The ‘brain explosion’ that saw a respected rabbi go berserk after a driver ‘stole’ his coveted parking spot – as he ripped the windscreen wiper off a stranger’s car and used it to smash the bonnet
- A normally peaceful rabbi has gone berserk in a road rage incident in Sydney
- Elimelech Levy, 36, ripped off a stranger’s wiper and smashed victim’s bonnet
- A court heard the incident was sparked when a man stole his parking space
A normally peaceful rabbi broke off a windscreen wiper and used it to smash dents in the bonnet of a stranger’s car after going berserk in a road rage incident.
Elimelech Levy, 36, blamed the outburst of anger on a ‘brain explosion’ when he appeared in Waverley Local Court in Sydney’s eastern suburbs on Wednesday.
The court heard the incident was sparked after the victim ‘stole’ his parking space on the morning of October 13 at Bondi Junction.
Elimelech Levy, 36, (pictured) broke off a windscreen wiper and used it to smash dents in the bonnet of a stranger’s car after going berserk in a road rage incident
Levy approached the man, Richard Georgeson, and the two had a discussion.
But when Mr Georgeson left, the respected rabbi snapped off his windscreen wiper and began wildly smashing it against the bonnet of the car, the Daily Telegraph reported.
Levy then broke off a side mirror before kicking it down the street, according to the agreed upon facts of the case.
‘It is a one-off brain explosion and he has regretted it ever since,’ his lawyer told the court.
‘It is an act that has happened completely out of character and involved particular pressure he was under.’
Although parking in the suburb can cost as much as $8.50 for two hours, it’s often extremely difficult to find a spot on the busy streets.
Once the religious figure, who has a wife and child, had a chance to calm down, he drove back to the scene and left a note about what he had done.
Police on Tuesday charged Levy with one count of recklessly damaging property.
Magistrate Ross Hudson ruled Levy must pay compensation of $3421 but no conviction was recorded
He pleaded guilty and his lawyer argued the rabbi of 14 years, who has no criminal record, should be shown leniency due the contribution he has made to the community.
Magistrate Ross Hudson agreed that Levy was well respected by others and normally considered a peaceful man.
He ruled Levy must pay compensation of $3,421 but no conviction was recorded.
Levy was also placed on a conditional release order for 18 months.
The victim was initially seeking compensation for over $5000.
But the judge ruled the valuation was too high and that the quote included work not related to the damage caused by Levy.
