An "angry and jealous" police worker who was caught on camera twice trying to mow down his love rival has been jailed.

Wayne Unstead, who worked with the Metropolitan Police dog handling unit, deliberately lined up his Seat car and "used it as a weapon" when he accelerated at Stephen Knight.

The horrific incident, which left a child in the victim's car traumatised and was captured on CCTV, occurred in South Street, Canterbury, at the junction with Sturry Road, on September 5, 2022.

In what was said to be a chance encounter, the 47-year-old had spotted his girlfriend Charlene Woodley in a car with her former partner, Mr Knight.

An irate Unstead "screamed to a halt" in front of their vehicle, got out and repeatedly punched the ex through a passenger window, shouting abuse.

He then got back behind the wheel of his Seat and, with Mr Knight now in the street, accelerated towards him.

Canterbury Crown Court heard Mr Knight managed to avoid being knocked down, only for an undeterred Unstead to reverse and, with his engine revving and wheels spinning, drive at him for a second time.

This time Mr Knight was struck in the leg. He went over the bonnet and fell into the road where he skidded along the surface. Unstead, meanwhile, sped off.

He was arrested the next day, gave a 'no comment interview' and later denied attempting to cause Mr Knight grievous bodily harm and dangerous driving.

However, in December last year on the day he was due to stand trial Unstead, of Marley Lane, Hoath, Canterbury, pleaded guilty to both offences and was remanded in custody.

Appearing via prison video link for sentencing on Friday, the judge was urged to take an exceptional course and spare him any more time behind bars.

Neil Ross, defending Unstead, told the court that his time in prison had been "horrendous" and, due to the nature of his career and publicity about the case, he had had to be housed on the jail's wing for vulnerable inmates.

He also explained how Unstead's "moment of utter madness" arose out of concerns for his girlfriend's welfare.

But on jailing the former police worker for more than three years, the judge said that although there may have been "a misguided attempt" to protect Ms Woodley, "nothing justified" what he had done.

The court heard that the relationship between Mr Knight and Ms Woodley, who have three children together, had ended but they continued to co-habit and had joint use of a car.

It was not said how long Ms Woodley and Unstead had been dating.

On the day of the incident, Mr Knight had gone to Whitstable and seen the couple outside a pub.

They acknowledged each other and left, said prosecutor Caroline Knight.

But later that day Unstead saw Ms Woodley as she drove Mr Knight to his mum's house and accosted them.

"The defendant came to a screaming halt in front of them and he was clearly very angry," said Ms Knight.

"He got out, approached the car and went straight to the passenger window where Mr Knight was sitting and attacked him, punching him repeatedly through the open window.

"People nearby heard the defendant calling Mr Knight a "crackhead ****" and telling him to get out of the car."

The court heard Ms Woodley urged Unstead to stop, alerting him to the screaming child in her vehicle.

But with Mr Knight now standing in the road, and the two men gesticulating at each other, Unstead returned to his Seat.

The prosecutor continued: "The defendant got into his car and, as Mr Knight retreated to the pavement, the defendant deliberately lined up his car to use it as a weapon to drive at Mr Knight.

"He jumped to land on his side on the bonnet to avoid being run over.

"The defendant then reversed, lined up his car again and deliberately drove at Mr Knight with the engine revving and wheels spinning, hitting him on the right leg in the knee.

"He rolled over the bonnet and fell off when the car stopped. He skidded on the road surface and suffered cuts and grazes to various parts of his body.

"The defendant drove off at speed."

Mr Knight's injuries were described by the prosecutor as "thankfully modest", but in a victim impact statement he said: "My life has been changed as a result of what that man did to me and I will continue to suffer for some time."

The court heard the child had been left "frightened and traumatised".

Mr Ross said Unstead, who had worked for the Met for over a decade, was "put on edge" when he saw Mr Knight in Whitstable, having been told by Ms Woodley that her ex was abusive.

He then became "deeply worried" when his attempts to contact her later in the day were unsuccessful, and "just lost himself" when he saw them in the car together.

"What happened was a moment of utter madness but one which was isolated and unlikely to be ever seen again," said Mr Ross.

"When they came into contact it was a complete chance happening. He just loses himself – and that one minute and 17 seconds has destroyed him."

Detailing Unstead's difficult childhood, genuine remorse, poor mental health – including a suicide attempt last year – his time spent on remand, exemplary references, previous good character and the loss of his police job, Mr Ross argued that a suspended sentence could be imposed.

"I rarely say this but this is one of those cases where the right course, both for the community and Mr Unstead, is a merciful sentence," he added.

Recorder Vivian Walters said however that despite the difficulties he faced and the background to the incident, immediate imprisonment was "inevitable".

Imposing a jail term of three years and two months, she told Unstead that he became angry and jealous in the belief, "whether true or not", that his girlfriend and Mr Knight had been intimate.

She accepted it was a "coincidental meeting" between them and that his car was not "far away" from Mr Knight when he drove at him.

But the judge said while the injuries were limited, she had to take into account the intended harm when deliberately using a car as a "highly dangerous weapon".

She told Unstead: "It was a horrific offence. I accept it was unplanned and a moment of utter madness.

"But I have seen the CCTV where you get out of the car, attack him and then drive at him not once, but twice.

"Only a custodial sentence reflects the seriousness of this offence."

Unstead, who was suspended from duty following the incident, was also handed a two-and-a-half year driving ban.

At the end of his hearing in December, a Met Police spokesperson confirmed a misconduct process would commence.