A father who was awarded damages for the loss of a leg in a motorcycle accident has been jailed after he rammed a driver off the road.

Billy Wright’s brother, dad-to-be Leonard Wright, was also sent to prison for the part he played in the attack.

Victim John Eastwood was injured when Billy Wright’s Mitsubishi Shogun 4x4 smashed into his car, leaving it a write-off.

Billy Wright, of Gerald Avenue, Chatham, who has links to Hartlip, and builder Leonard Wright, of Meresborough Road, Rainham, denied dangerous driving. Leonard Wright also denied common assault.

Both were convicted and each jailed for 16 months.

Billy Wright was banned from driving for two years and eight months and ordered to pay the victim £4,000 compensation - £3,500 of which was for the loss of his car - and £1,200 court costs.

Leonard Wright was ordered to pay Mr Eastwood £500 compensation.

The victim told Maidstone Crown Court he went to see Billy Wright, 27, after he had some jump leads stolen from the back of his recovery truck on February 16 last year.

He spoke to Leonard Wright, 29, and was told the leads were in his brother’s truck. Two days later Mr Eastwood was driving his Vauxhall Vectra car when he saw the brothers.

He asked for the leads and was told he was not getting them back and asked if he “wanted to make something of it”.

He said of Leoard Wright: “I thought he was going to punch me through the window,” he told the jury. “He picked up a bar. As I got out he struck me across the right shoulder.

“It caused me excruciating pain. I panicked and shut the door. By this time he was swinging the pole, smashing the front windscreen and driver’s side window.

“I was focused on getting away. I saw Billy Wright get into his vehicle and chase me. I turned into Palmerston Road. He came up behind me and rammed the back of my car.

“There was a second impact by him and then another impact by Leonard Wright in a transit van. All the air bags came up. My car was hit three or four times.

“All I wanted to do was get out of there. I drove to a phone box and called the police. They both made off.”

"I am sure you can appreciate it could have been a fatal accident. Any one of them could have had their lives destroyed" - Recorder Matthew McDonagh

The court heard father-of-two Billy Wright, said to have a long list of previous convictions, was on crutches after losing his leg in the accident in 2012.

He won £800,000 damages and was in the process of setting up a business hiring out plant.

He will have to take an extended driving test before being allowed back on the road.

Recorder Matthew McDonagh said the driving was “very serious indeed”.

He continued: “You essentially wanted to use your vehicles as a weapon.

You, Billy Wright, rammed him from behind. It caused a head-on collision with Leonard Wright in his van which was coming round the corner.

“I am sure you can appreciate it could have been a fatal accident. The video shows others walking near the incident carrying on their daily business.

“Any one of them could have had their lives destroyed.”

Because of his financial situation Billy Wright was ordered to pay the £1,200 court costs.

Investigating officer PC Caroline Morton said: "The behaviour by these two brothers was appalling. Not only did Leonard attack the victim with a cast iron drainpipe, but both brothers then used the vehicles to hit the victim.

"He was lucky to escape with his life and I’m pleased the judge has sentenced them to this time behind bars."