A Boston man who punched a woman because she didn’t say “hello” has been convicted, prosecutors say

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

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

Atkinson will be on probation for two years after he gets out of state prison, Hayden said.

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 said.

She began recording Atkinson on her cell phone, Hayden said.

Atkinson, who had gotten into a black Mercedes nearby, exited the vehicle and began punching the woman in the face, Hayden said. He then threw her against a fence. Atkinson stopped as soon as the woman bit him.

After hitting her, Atkinson drove the Mercedes toward the woman, nearly hitting her, Hayden said.

The woman was bleeding from her nose when Boston police arrived, Hayden said. 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.

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