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).
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 the first staff member, who was angry and objecting to being filmed in public at the car showroom on Greenhill Crescent.
About 10 minutes after the initial encounter outside the showroom, another employee approached the corner opposite GREGGS where the photographer was working. He physically grabbed the journalist in an attempt to seize the equipment, leaving visible bruising on the victim’s wrists.
A witness said, “I saw the two men charging towards the victim; it was scary”
This individual then retreated to the showroom. Minutes later, both male staff members emerged together, running fast and coordinating a hostile charge towards the photojournalist. The primary assailant lunged straight at the journalist, attempting to barge into him. Acting strictly in self-defence to block the impact, the journalist deployed a defensive kick to the assailant’s stomach.
The attacker recovered immediately, got straight back up, and targeted the journalist’s legs to compromise his movement and prevent further self-defence.
The journalist was shoved to the ground, struck, and kicked, sustaining ABH injuries to his back and elbows.
Theft of Evidence
During the violent altercation, the staff members forcibly took control of the professional equipment. Upon the arrival of the police, the staff members surrendered the primary device back to its owner, but the memory card containing the valuable photographs—and the definitive evidence of the assault—had been permanently stolen from the device and was never returned.
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 (ABH). He is back home recovering from injuries.
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.
