Endeavour Hyundai Staff Hospitalise Photojournalist During Assault at Watford Business Park
WATFORD — On Monday, 29 July, a professional photojournalist undertaking an aerial photography assignment at the new £25 million Watford Business Park was violently assaulted by employees of the local Hyundai franchise, Endeavour Automotive. The unprovoked attack left the journalist hospitalised overnight and has sparked a police investigation into Actual Bodily Harm (ABH).
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The Incident
At approximately 6:30 pm, while the licensed pilot manoeuvred a 249g drone in public airspace to capture images for an upcoming feature, he was approached by aggressive staff members outside the car showroom on Greenhill Crescent.
A male employee objected to being filmed in public view and physically grabbed the journalist in an attempt to seize the remote controller, leaving visible bruising on the victim’s arms.
As the journalist attempted to walk away from the escalating situation and film the interaction for his own safety, two male staff members charged at him.
The victim was shoved forcefully to the ground, where he was punched and kicked. He sustained injuries to his head, back, stomach, and elbows.
Theft of Evidence
Following the assault, the perpetrators confiscated the journalist’s drone equipment. While the equipment was eventually returned upon the arrival of Hertfordshire Police, the perpetrators had removed the memory card. This card contained both the assignment photographs and critical digital evidence of the assault itself.
Hospitalisation
The severity of the assault required an overnight hospital stay for our resilient journalist. The incident is now under investigation as a case of grievous bodily harm (GBH). He is back home recovering from wounds.
A witness said “I saw the two men charging towards the victim, it was scary”
A man who worked at Renault looked shocked at what had just happened.
The pilot has operated drones for seven years, holds a valid UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) licence, and was operating strictly within legal guidelines.
Under CAA regulations, distracting or interrupting a drone pilot during flight poses a severe safety risk and can be prosecuted as reckless endangerment.
Corporate Accountability and Executive Silence
When contacted regarding the violent conduct of their staff, Endeavour Automotive’s head office issued a statement claiming they take the matter seriously and have requested an urgent review from the local franchise management. However, the Watford franchise leadership has reportedly been avoiding internal corporate communication and has failed to issue a public apology or account for their staff’s actions.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper previously commented generally on street violence, stating: “This is not acceptable on our streets and they will pay the price for their violence & thuggery.”
Witness appeal
The incident occurred during working hours, and multiple workers from surrounding businesses, including a nearby Renault dealership, witnessed the attack.
Hertfordshire Police are appealing for witnesses. Anyone with CCTV, dashcam footage, or information regarding the assault is urged to contact police on 101, quoting Crime Reference 41/64095/24, or to submit details online.
