Businesswoman Cleared Of 'Road Rage' Attack

A wealthy Porsche-driving businesswoman finally won her appeal today against a violent 'road rage' conviction for repeatedly kicking a chauffeur while screaming: "I'm gonna break your f***ing legs if you don't get out of my car."

The chauffeur suspected Maria Lemos, 41 - the director of a furniture design company - was drunk when her £55,000 4x4 Cayenne bumped into the rear of his E-class Mercedes.

Lemos, (pic.l.) of Bryanston Court, George Street, Marble Arch - where an apartment recently sold for £2.7m - claims she thought she was being car-jacked and was desperately defending herself.

She hired leading QC Mark Ellison, who successfully argued her behaviour was not unreasonable in the circumstances.

She was originally convicted of assaulting Kenneth Oakley,51, (pic.r.) in Chelsea Bridge Road on November 7, 2010 and fined £600, with £300 costs and ordered to pay £100 compensation to the victim.

However, Judge Anthony Pitts dismissed the charge at Southwark Crown Court, agreeing with Lemos' QC that rather than detaining the defendant Mr. Oakley should have taken other options.

The court ruled Mr. Oakley should have either called police earlier, tried to obtain Lemos' name, address and phone number or at least take her registration number so she could be traced.

Mr. Oakley told the court he approached the defendant after their vehicles made contact at traffic lights.

"I did smell what I believed to be alcohol coming from the car and the lady. Her eyes were glazed and her speech was slurred."

Lemos got out of her Porsche and after dismissing Mr. Oakley's claims of contact tried to drive off.

"Then it all got a bit horrible," the chauffeur told the court. "I stood in front of her door  to stop her and she pulled the door forcibly, slamming it into my arm.

"A lot of abusive language started to come out and I was also kicked twice. There was enough force to make me wince."

Meanwhile, the defendant, who had been planning to collect her children, was on the phone to her businessman husband George Lemos with a running commentary of the incident.

"Because of the pain I moved back," said Mr. Oakley. "She started driving and I got out of the way, not wanting to be run over."

Lemos was arrested at the family home that night and charged on January 10, last year, maintaining her innocence throughout.

She told the original trial she feared being the victim of a potential car-jacking, describing Mr. Oakley as: "Angry, forceful and aggressive."

Denying she had been drinking Lemos said: "He was pissed off and I was scared and just had to get out of there. I was just trying to escape."

She admitted kicking out at the victim, but insisted it was in self defence.

"I heard these stories growing up. They try to get into your car."