The award-winning writer/director/producer, who also appeared in BBC’s ‘White Gold’ was shooting a short film on the subject of mental health and suicide by the Thames’ Teddington Footbridge.
Recovery truck driver Dean Lort, 38, suddenly found himself in the middle of the shoot as he walked along Teddington Lock and flew into a rage when challenged.
At Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court he pleaded guilty to assaulting Ms Bailey; sound supervisor Simon Hornett and photographer and sound technician Felix Jeager on March 7, last year.
He also pleaded guilty to causing £2,800 worth of criminal damage to the shoot and to sound equipment and possessing a small amount of cannabis.
Afterwards Ms Bailey described herself as “traumatised and shocked” and needed to have a hospital tests after Lort, of
Randle Road, Richmond smeared blood in her face.
“I did not know how far he would go and it was not something one would expect in a quiet residential area,” she said.
Prosecutor Jade Sodipo told the court trouble started when Lort began goading the crew with one of his arms outstretched.
“Ms Bailey says she was trying to calm him down and he called her a ‘slag’ and ‘c***’ and spat at her and wiped his blood on her face.
“He had earlier hit himself with a piece of equipment and Ms Bailey had to go to St. Thomas’s Hospital.”
Ms Bailey, who runs Nine Yard Films, said the entire £2,800 shoot was ruined and would now have to be re-shot at her own expense after crowdfunding had raised the initial budget.
Lort had barged into the film crew, asking: “Do you want a fight?” He got in the victims’ faces and was shouting aggressively at them, the court heard.
When Lort started grabbing the equipment and pushing over the gear he was put into a headlock by one of the crew and continued trying to spit at the victims.
He continually shouted abuse at them, his face now covered in blood, spitting at the same time.
The two male victims said they were also “traumatised” by the incident and had lost work as a result and had their equipment damaged.
Police were called and Lort was taken into custody, where the cannabis was found when he was searched.
“He said he was walking along and saw the crowd and heard someone say something to him and went to confront them,” explained Ms Sodipo.
“He said he was pushed and a scuffle began and thinks he was hit by someone and admitted he was drunk at the time.
“The defendant told officers he did not intend to hurt anyone, but was surrounded and feared for his safety.”
Lort told the court: “I was walking along the footpath near the river and there was a film crew spread across the path and as I walked over the bridge I was in the middle of a crowd.
“Someone came over and started pushing me along to get out of the way, but there was no other way to get through and that’s how it started.
“I did think someone called me a swear word and I did turn around and felt I had been attacked and they hit me with their equipment.
“I was in a rush to see my son. I had a few drinks earlier in the day, but I wouldn’t say I was intoxicated.”
Lort was placed on a twelve-month community order, which includes a thirty-day recommended activity requirement and a three-month home curfew between 7pm and 7am.
He must also pay £2,800 compensation to Ms Bailey; £100 compensation to each of the male victims; £220 costs and a £95 victim surcharge.
“These offences were particularly unpleasant. The spitting and the blood, even without Covid, carry hepatitis and other diseases,” magistrate Diane Chitty told Lort.
“These people would have been frightened of infection. This is viewed very seriously and is unpleasant.”
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