A MOTORIST drove into a man and knocked him on to his bonnet during a road rage incident, a court heard.

The windscreen was smashed in the impact and the victim was carried along for 40 yards before he managed to roll off the bonnet.

The driver, Philip Watkin, aged 61, who was one-and-a-half times over the drink-driving limit, drove off in his Mercedes, leaving his victim lying on the ground with a stiff back and a grazed thigh.

The police were called by the victim, David Broom, and Watkin was arrested, Aleric Bassano, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court.

Jailing Watkin for 28 days and banning him from driving for two years, Judge Brian Lewis said: "This sort of conduct on our roads will not be tolerated."

Watkin, of Coach House, Astley, pleaded guilty to driving dangerously, with excess alcohol and failing to stop after an accident.

Mr Bassano said that at 6.30pm on Saturday, July 10, the mens cars stopped in Elliot Street, Tyldesley, after Watkin had been beeping his horn and flashing at Mr Groom because of a manoeuvre he had made. They got out of their cars, there was a verbal exchange and Watkin then got back in his car.

Mr Broom, who realised Watkin had been drinking, said he was going to ring the police and was doing so when Watkin drove slowly at him. He expected Mr Broom to move out of the way, but he did not and Watkin accelerated towards him. Mr Broom fell on to the bonnet and his hand broke the windscreen.

Watkin continued driving and after 40 yards Mr Broom rolled to the ground, but was not seriously injured. When arrested, Watkin said he did not know what had come over him.

Patrick Buckley, defending, said Watkin, who worked for many years for the National Coal Board, and is now self-employed, had been out for his weekly drink with friends and was on his way home when the incident, which he bitterly regrets, happened.