Driver punched man in the face after he pulled out in front of him

Stuart Blackwell of Fillongley Road, Meriden, Coventry pleaded guilty to common assault by beating and criminal damage.

Lesley Ashton, prosecuting at Hereford Magistrates' Court, said it was just after midday on February 3 when Norman Weale turned left in his car onto the A4103 coming from Whitestone Business Park.

He said he accelerated as Blackwell's car was about 200 yards away.

But as Mr Weale approached the garden centre he said he felt Blackwell was driving very closely behind him and was harassing him to speed up, which he did.

He said Blackwell then overtook him and as he pulled back in front of him Blackwell slammed on his brakes.

An independent witness said he saw Blackwell get out of his car and walk to the victim's car before kicking the driver's door twice.

He said Blackwell then leant into the car and punched Mr Weale four times in the face.

Mr Weale sustained cuts and bruises to his face and went to A&E.

Defending, Jo Outhwaite, said her client was embarrassed by what had happened and had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

She said Blackwell believed Mr Weale pulled out in front of him too closely and that Mr Weale then slowed down to 20 to 30mph in a 50mph speed limit zone.

She said Blackwell believed he was doing this deliberately and decided to overtake him but then Mr Weale sped up.

She said: "Mr Blackwell entirely accepts that at that point, for whatever reason, he snapped."

She said it was entirely out of character and he had a lot going on in his personal life at the time- he had lost a big contract at work, had just had a baby, and a couple he saw as mother and father figures had passed away.

Following a pre-sentence report magistrates gave Blackwell a 12-month community order with a requirement of 150 hours of unpaid work.

He was ordered to pay £500 compensation to Mr Weale, £220 compensation for the damage he caused to Mr Weale's car, £135 court costs and a £60 victim surcharge.