A SCAFFOLDING boss who left a motorist bruised and battered with two broken teeth after a road rage incident was jailed for three months on Friday.

John Bean, 39, who employs 40 staff, attacked John Whybrow in Ashford in March this year. Maidstone Crown Court heard Mr Whybrow was still wearing his seatbelt when he was assaulted.

However, it was father-of-three Bean who claimed he had been the victim of an unprovoked attack when he was arrested.

He maintained this story at his trial last month. But the jury did not believe him and returned a unanimous guilty verdict. Bean had denied assault causing actual bodily harm.

Bean was told by Recorder Michael Hopmeier he had attacked Mr Whybrow in a “vicious and cowardly way.”

“You must be thoroughly ashamed of your conduct and how you have let people down,” he added.

Recorder Hopmeier said custody was inevitable. “It is unacceptable for such conduct to occur in a civilised society, and citizens are entitled to be protected from such conduct.”

Trouble flared in March when Mr Whybrow, driving home from work in his Audi along the M20, left the motorway at Junction 10 and was waiting at a set of traffic lights. Bean was driving a Range Rover and as both cars moved off he cut up Mr Whybrow, who then sounded his horn and flashed his lights.

Mr Whybrow then decided to turn off into a cul-de-sac. Intending to do a three-point turn he saw the Range Rover again.

Bean got out of the driver's seat and reached Mr Whybrow's side as he was in the last stage of his manoeuvre. The court heard Bean opened the driver's door and grabbed Mr Whybrow by the right shoulder.

Dominic Webber, prosecuting, said: "Mr Whybrow was still strapped in and Mr Bean started hitting him with his right fist. Blows were raining down, hitting him in the nose and to the head.”

In evidence, Bean, of Beansville House, Boys Hall Road, Ashford, claimed it was Mr Whybrow who had caused trouble, tooting his horn, flashing his lights and tailgating him.

Bean claimed he was punched in the face by Mr Whybrow. He said he did not report the attack because he did not have the registration number of the other car.

Paul Hogben, defending, described Bean as a self-made businessman and devoted family man. He said Bean had been “very publically named and shamed” by local press coverage of his trial.

Several character references were handed into the court, including one from an employee who said he had turned his life around after Bean gave him a job after a spell in prison.

Bean was also ordered to pay £1,000 compensation, £2,500 towards defence costs and £800 prosecution costs.