Road rage attacker facing jail

A MAN who punched a motorist in a fit of road rage could be jailed a court heard.

Drunk James Wood and his friends pursued Nicholas Reynolds car into Severn Road, Ipswich and then attacked him.

Wood punched him in the face and slammed a car door against his leg before Mr Reynolds could escape. Mr Reynolds said: “He was acting like an animal”.

Gareth Davies prosecuting at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court said Wood, 19, of Fletcher Road had been involved in a drinking competition at the Royal Oak Public House on October 10 last year. His unnamed friend then drove him and others in a Ford Fiesta into Wye Road.

Mr Reynolds told police the Fiesta was in front of him and had then stopped in the middle of the road. He “bibbed” his horn then drove alongside the Fiesta and shouted “what are you doing blocking the road”.

Mr Reynolds said he was pursued by the men in the Fiesta and he began to feel “a bit unsettled”. When he got home he got out of the car and was confronted by Wood who punched him, slammed the door against his leg and kicked the car before Mr Reynolds fled.

Mr Reynolds suffered a bruised nose and was treated at the Riverside Clinic.

Wood who has a previous record for violence pleaded guilty to common assault. He initially told police it was a case of mistaken identity but later owned up saying he did it but was too drunk to remember much of the incident.

Ian Duckworth for Wood said his client was a self-employed labourer who lived with his parents.

District Judge David Cooper heard that wood was due in court again on February 20 on a charge of using threatening behaviour. Wood was released on conditional bail and Judge Cooper said he would be sentenced for both offences at the next hearing.

Judge Cooper added: “As far as I'm concerned you are looking at custody but it is up to the justices”.

Wood was banned from licensed premises and curfewed between 10pm and 6am until the 20th.