A MOTORIST followed his victim for nearly 15 minutes before exacting road rage revenge on the other driver.

Blackburn magistrates heard the victim was forced to stop by a car coming in the other direction and Thomas William Gorman took the opportunity to get out and punch him.

And when Alan Lee locked his car door Gorman tried to prise the door open and bent it in the process.

Gorman, 24, of Portree Crescent, Blackburn, was convicted after trial of assaulting Mr Lee and causing £600 worth of damage to his car.

He was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison suspended for 18 months, made subject to community supervision for 18 months and ordered to do 120 hours unpaid work. He was also banned from driving for six months and ordered to pay £500 compensation.

Isla Chilton, prosecuting, said Mr Lee was on his way to work and minding his own business when Gorman became upset by a minor incident.

“He then followed Mr Lee for nearly 15 minutes until he was forced to stop on Ayr Road because of a car coming the other way,” said Mrs Chilton. “The defendant pulled up behind him and ran to the drivers door and punched Mr Lee for no apparent reason. Mr Lee managed to shut the door but Gorman actually bent it as he tried to get at the other man again.”

Jonathan Taylor, defending, said his client still didn’t accept he had done anything wrong.

“He does agree he could have handled matters far better,” said Mr Taylor.