A baseball bat wielding murderer has been recalled to prison after bludgeoning a motorist in a road rage row.

David Southall was released on licence in 2003 after serving a life-term for killing a woman in the 80s.

But in March 2020, the 56-year-old attacked Simon Farrell with the weapon before mowing him down on the M20 hard shoulder, near Folkestone.

Mr Farrell suffered two head wounds and memory loss, having been discharged from hospital the same day.

Now, Southall will only be released from prison once the parole board deem him safe.

A judge ruled at Canterbury Crown Court Southall will serve a further 11 months for his latest violent actions.

Southall made offensive gestures towards his victim as both cars approached Junction 12, with the vehicles eventually stopping on the hard shoulder.

He rained blows with a wooden baseball bat on Mr Farrell’s head then, as a witness threatened to call 999, drove into him.

Mr Farrell was rushed to hospital where two wounds were sealed with 19 staples, he would suffer memory loss as a result of the attack.

“There was a scuffle and you managed to get on top of Mr Farrell whilst he was on the ground.

“You struck Mr Farrell several times with significant force around the head with the bat causing an injury to his head,” Judge Mark Weekes told Southall.

Mr Farrell’s wife Susan attempted to pull Southall away as an eyewitness said he was going to call police, the court heard.

“There was a scuffle and you managed to get on top of Mr Farrell whilst he was on the ground..."

And as she helped Mr Farrell to his feet Southall returned to his car, still armed with the bat.

“You drove at Mr Farrell and hit him with the front passenger side of your vehicle.

“You continued to drive up the slip road and then drove to Folkestone Police Station where you reported a road rage incident to the police.

“You gave the baseball bat to the police,” Judge Weekes continued.

Mr Farrell was released from Ashford’s William Harvey Hospital the same day, he declined to provide the court with a victim impact statement.

Judge Weekes said Southall’s previous murder conviction, alongside the road rage offence having been committed on licence, were aggravating features of the case.

But Bryan Reece, mitigating, highlighted Southall’s remorse and insight into his actions.

He also argued Southall steered clear of the law for more than 15 years, and entered early guilty pleas.

However, the judge stated a delay of more than a year to charge Southall was “difficult to understand”.

He continued: “It is in a sense a privilege that you were released in 2002 from what is a life sentence having committed the gravest offence in English law, it is also to be observed that you have long ago served what was considered to be the appropriate custodial term of that life sentence.”

Appearing via videolink from HMP Elmley, Southall, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm at an earlier hearing.

Southall was handed a 15-year life tariff for murder at Maidstone Crown Court in 1987, although no further details of the offence were heard in court.

Detective chief inspector Keith Taylor said: "The offence was inexcusable and a completely over-the-top reaction to an incident that occurred whilst driving on the motorway.

"Southall attended Folkestone Police Station on October 7 to report he had been involved in an altercation with another man on the hard shoulder of the M20.

"As his account of the incident differed from those of others at the scene including an independent witness, he was arrested and later released under investigation so further inquiries could be carried out.

"As his account of the incident differed from those of others at the scene including an independent witness..."

"The same month Southall was recalled to prison for breaching the terms of his licence for a previous unrelated offence.

"While in prison, officers carried out a full and thorough investigation into the incident on the M20, which included taking witness statements and reviewing CCTV footage, mobile phone downloads and medical evidence.

"A case file was sent to the Crown Prosecution Service in April 2021, with authority to charge Southall with grievous bodily harm granted in June.

"Further work was then undertaken to prepare the case for court, with Southall being charged by post in October following further consultation with the CPS."