A DRIVER has been jailed for brandishing a metal bar and hurling threats at a fellow motorist during a road-rage incident on the M1 in South Yorkshire.
Sheraz Ahmed, aged 25, waved a tyre lever at vehicle delivery driver Gavin Wolstenholme when he flew into a temper on the hard shoulder of the motorway.
Sheffield Crown Court heard the incident happened between junctions 36, at Tankersley, and 37, at Dodworth near Barnsley.
Carl Fitch, prosecuting, said Ahmed was involved in a high-speed car chase with a group of youths along the busy motorway, when he came up quickly behind Mr Wolstenholme’s Audi.
Ahmed flashed his lights and Mr Wolstenholme moved into the middle lane to let him pass, but made a gesture at Ahmed as he did so.
“The defendant was angered. He got in front of Mr Wolstenholme and applied his brakes sharply. The back end of the vehicle span out and hit the central reservation, causing a little damage.
“The defendant pulled over and so did Mr Wolstenholme.”
Mr Fitch said Ahmed took out the tyre lever from his vehicle and approached Mr Wolstenholme, saying: ‘I’m going to smash your car up’.
The police arrived soon afterwards and arrested Ahmed.
David McGonagle, defending, said Ahmed believed he was being chased by relatives of a woman he had ‘given attention to’ at work.
“He lost control of himself, he is ashamed of it,” said Mr McGonagle.
Ahmed - who has no previous convictions - admitted affray and dangerous driving.
Sentencing, Judge Roger Keen QC said: “You have destroyed your good character. You can’t drive this aggressively on public roads.”
Ahmed, from Bradford, was jailed for four months and banned from driving for 18 months, after which he must take an extended test.