A hitchhiker ‘nearly killed’ himself by leaping in front of an oncoming car, waving his arms and forcing the driver to swerve and crash, a court heard.

Charlie Gisby, 20, suddenly emerged from a hedge on the A2070 in Brenzett, where he stood metres away from the oncoming vehicle, forcing the female driver to roll and become trapped inside.

Reading out the victim’s impact statement, prosecutor James Nicholls told Folkestone Magistrates' Court yesterday: “I’m angry I have been hurt in such a stupid act.

“He is lucky not to have been killed acting like that on such a dark road.

“I have been left with bumps and bruises at the time of making this statement.”

The incident, which happened at 11.30pm as the victim returned home from work on July 1, rendered the vehicle a write off.

Mr Nicholls added the arresting officer believed Gisby, of Caroland Close, Smeeth, Ashford, who is autistic, seemed under the influence of alcohol ‘or something else’ when he tried to hitch a lift towards Hastings to see a friend.

Unemployed Gisby pleaded guilty to causing danger to road users, an offence District Judge Justin Barron labelled ‘unusual’.

Judge Barron ordered him to pay £720 compensation to the victim at £100 a month – the amount the incident cost her in insurance excess and loss of wages.

Gisby will face 10 days probation and a 12 week curfew from 8pm to 8am.

Defending, Lewis Holloway, said the benefit claimant was ‘regretful’.

He said: “He was trying to hitch-hike a lift to see a friend.

“He accepts he was under the influence of alcohol and he could have killed himself. He regrets what happened.”

Judge Barron said: “You did a dangerous thing and you pleaded guilty to doing a dangerous thing.

“I’m not sending you to prison today I’m making a community order for 12 months.”