A MAN who pulled out in front of another motorist and then deliberately “antagonised” him by driving erratically then got out and smashed a rear window on his car.

Jonathon James Griffiths pulled out of a side junction onto the A3066 at Haselbury Plucknett right in front of the victim, who beeped his horn, and then began driving slowly in what was described in court as a deliberate manoeuvre.

When the other driver tried to overtake, the defendant started to speed up, and then he suddenly stopped in the road, got out and walked towards the other vehicle and began arguing with the male.

The frightened victim drove further up the road but Griffiths ran up alongside him and then punched a rear window causing it to break.

The 49-year-old defendant, of Westdown Orchard Caravan Park, Lopenhead, pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle on the A3066 at Haselbury Plucknett on March 2 without due care and attention.

He also admitted destroying a rear window valued at £90 belonging to Peter Ashcroft when he appeared before Somerset Magistrates at Yeovil.

A further allegation of assault was withdrawn on the day of a scheduled trial hearing.

Prosecutor Suzie Butler said that at 4.30pm Mr Ashcroft was driving on the A3066 heading towards the A30 when the defendant pulled out of a side junction in front of him so he beeped his horn in response.

“Mr Ashcroft followed Griffiths through a 20mph zone into a 30 zone and the defendant then slowed down which the complainant believed was to purposely antagonise him,” she said.

“He went to overtake so the defendant sped up and then stopped but then sped up again before stopping in the road causing the complainant to stop behind him.

“Griffiths got out and tried to open Mr Ashcroft’s door but he drove away and had to stop at a junction so the defendant ran up alongside him.

“Mr Ashcroft got out of his car and asked the defendant what was going on before getting back inside his vehicle but Griffiths then punched a rear window which smashed.”

When the defendant was later interviewed by police he said he was pulling out of a junction and a car sped up the back of him and tried to overtake him.

When he got out near the junction he said Mr Ashcroft spun off causing him to be nearly hit and he “saw red”, went to the back of the car and hit it before driving off in his own car.

Defending himself, Griffiths told the court that he pulled out of the side road and the other car was speeding up behind him while beeping his horn and trying to overtake him when the incident occurred.

For careless driving the magistrates endorsed the defendant’s licence with seven penalty points and fined him £459 with £300 towards costs and a £45 victim surcharge.

They also ordered him to pay £90 compensation to Mr Ashcroft as punishment for the criminal damage offence.