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Jamie Curtis Pene, 39, of Newtown. - Source: Fairfax
A cyclist-turned-motorist punched an American tourist visiting Wellington after swerving toward him with his car.
Jamie Curtis Pene, 39, pleaded guilty to assaulting Russell Roca on January 10.
Roca and his girlfriend Laura Crawford, from Oregon, were riding their collapsible bikes on Riddiford St, Newtown about 4.30pm when a man driving a silver car passed them.
They said it was "really really close, almost aggressively''.
Police prosecutor Blair Piper said Pene swerved close to Roca then stopped, got out of his car and hit him before speeding off.
Pene had not given an explanation when spoken to by police and did not give one in court.
Wellington District Court judge David McKegg remanded Pene on bail until March for sentencing and called for a probation report, including into an electronically monitored sentence like community detention.
In 2008 Pene had been convicted of wilful damage and threatening behaviour after he tried to intimidate drivers while riding his bicycle.
He followed motorists, kicked and punched their cars and spat on them.
He told police he did it in a fit of rage.
He was given a 12 month suspended sentence and ordered to pay reparation of $2654.25.