A MAN who slapped a motorist in a fit of road rage has been sent to prison for 12 weeks and disqualified.James Winship was already on a conditional discharge for a similar offence when he had a row with his girlfriend on April 8 this year and went for a drive to calm down.

A MAN who slapped a motorist in a fit of road rage has been sent to prison for 12 weeks and disqualified.

James Winship was already on a conditional discharge for a similar offence when he had a row with his girlfriend on April 8 this year and went for a drive to calm down.

He was in Walton Avenue, Felixstowe when he pushed in front of another driver, got into an argument with him and got out of his car to attack him.

Winship, 26, of Elizabeth Way, Felixstowe, pleaded guilty to charges of common assault and driving while using a mobile phone at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court on Wednesday .

Gareth Davies, prosecuting, said: “The victim was stationary waiting in the road to turn and drive towards the seafront.

“He had several members of family including his children in the car.

“A red Ford Fiesta with the defendant in, who was using his mobile phone at the time, raced passed as the victim was about to pull out.

“There was an exchange of words before the defendant got out of the car, swore at him and hit him with an open hand.”

Winship said in interview he had an argument with his partner and had gone for a drive to calm down.

Michael Stephenson, mitigating, said: “He is a complex young man. He seems tough and has previous convictions but in the interview room he was in pieces.”

District judge David Cooper said: “I do not want you crushed by this. I understand the situation you got in but it is my job to uphold the law as well as offer you sympathy.”

Winship was given six weeks in prison for breaking a suspended sentence, six weeks in prison for common assault and banned from driving for six months.