A DANGEROUS driver is banned from the road today after he drove in a “ridiculous” manner and intimidated other motorists before crashing into one of them.

A DANGEROUS driver is banned from the road today after he drove in a “ridiculous” manner and intimidated other motorists before crashing into one of them.

Benjamin Wilson drove so close to other cars on the A12 and A14 near the Copdock roundabout that other drivers could not see his car's headlights behind them.

Christopher Morgan, prosecuting at Ipswich Crown Court, said the 32-year-old, of Tacket Court, Colchester, “weaved” his red Ford Focus between cars and lorries at speed as he drove toward the Orwell bridge at about 6.30am on December 27 last year.

Witness, Kevin Cook, said he felt “threatened” when Wilson's car drove close to his before pulling out sharply to overtake him. Wilson, a ground worker, then pulled in front of him again leaving just a few feet between them as they travelled at 70 miles per hour.

Mr Cook said Wilson's car then “left him for dust”.

Wilson then repeated the manoeuvre on a Renault Clio, driven by Mark Bartell, but as he accelerated to overtake the Clio Wilson's bumper hit that of Mr Bartell's and set the Clio spinning into the central barrier.

The court heard that it was a miracle no other cars were involved and no one was injured.

Wilson pleaded guilty to dangerous driving.

Gregory King-Underwood, mitigating, said his client was a hard-working father-of-two who had accepted his driving was reckless and could have had terrible consequences.

Judge David Goodin said: “You could have killed Mr Bartell with your ridiculous driving. It was a moment of frustration and anger that made you drive in the ridiculous way you did.”

Wilson was disqualified for driving for a year and told to take an extended driving test. He was also told to do 200 hours unpaid work and pay £1,025 towards court costs because he had not pleaded guilty at the magistrates' court.