Prosecutors say a Boston man who beat a woman for not saying “hello” has been sentenced

A Boston man was sentenced to two years in prison for beating a woman and nearly hitting her with his car because he became upset that she didn’t say hello to him, officials said.

Ian Atkinson, 34, of Dorchester, was convicted of assault, battery and assault with a deadly weapon, Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden said.

Hayden said Atkinson will be on probation for two years after his release from state prison.

The woman was watering her plants on July 13, 2023, when Atkinson walked past her and said, “When people say good morning to you, you should say hello, crazy (expletive),” Hayden claims.

Hayden said she began recording Atkinson on her cell phone.

Atkinson, who got into a nearby black Mercedes, exited the vehicle and began punching the woman in the face, Hayden added. He then threw her against the fence. Atkinson stopped when the woman bit him.

After the beating, Atkinson drove the Mercedes towards the woman and almost hit her, Hayden added.

Hayden said the woman was bleeding from the nose when Boston police arrived. She was taken to a nearby hospital. She had a broken nose, bruises on her head and face, and a broken blood vessel in her left eye.

Hayden said the beating was captured on the woman’s cell phone and surveillance camera. Atkinson, who was wearing a GPS device at the time, was arrested a few days later.