Man clung on to bonnet of pianist's car

12:45pm Thursday 13th March 2008

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A world famous concert pianist left Croydon Crown Court in tears yesterday after he was found guilty of injuring a motorist who had clung on to the bonnet of his car in a road accident.

Dr Leslie Howard, 59, who was awarded the Order of Australia by the Queen in 1999 for service to the arts, had denied a charge of causing actual bodily harm but was found guilty by the jury.

The Australian-born genius, from Norbury Crescent, Norbury, was alleged to have driven his Mercedes through Norbury after the accident with a man holding precariously on to the bonnet.

He was involved in a collision with a Toyota Yaris, driven by Titilayo Aleshe, 40, on January 18 last year at the junction of Green Lane and Kensington Avenue, Norbury.

Mr Aleshe told the court: "I got out of my car and approached him, but he started reversing back into Kensington Avenue. He went into gear and came straight towards me. I fell on to the bonnet as his car hit me."

Mr Aleshe said Howard drove about 15 metres, with him still on the bonnet, and he had a number of injuries.

He also lost his £1,000 wedding ring and a watch worth around £450 and damaged his teeth so badly that it would cost around £200 to repair.

But Dr Howard, who has an international reputation on the classical music scene and has recorded hundreds of CDs, claimed that Mr Aleshe had risen his hand as if to say the matter was over so he drove off.

He said it wasn't until he reached St Peter's Church in Eaton Square, London - where he was attending the induction of a new vicar - that he realised his front number plate had been torn off in the shunt.

He immediately phoned the police to let them know what had happened.

He denied that Mr Aleshe had been dragged along on the front of his car.

Defence lawyer Maurice Aston alleged that Mr Aleshe had exaggerated his injuries and his supposed financial losses.

"His inflated claims are designed to improve his chances of getting money from Dr Howard. That is the harsh reality of it", he said.

Dr Howard will reappear on April 15 for sentence and has been granted bail.