by Keith Hunt

A road rage driver almost caused a pile-up on a busy motorway when he leant out of the window of his car transporter and opened the passenger door of a transit van.

The door was left flapping open in heavy traffic and the driver was forced to stop and close it.

The "extraordinary" incident on the M25 near the Dartford Tunnel was filmed on another driver’s mobile phone and shown to a judge.

Joseph Clark, 29, was jailed for six months and banned from driving for a year after Judge Philip Statman told him: "It is good fortune for all concerned that no serious road traffic accident occurred.

"The rage you showed and the fear you caused to the other gentleman was such that even someone travelling behind thought this was wholly extraordinary and unusual and took a sensible course to ensure the police were given information which eventually led to your arrest."

Clark, of Lime Road, Swanley, admitted dangerous driving when he appeared at Maidstone Crown Court.

"he was dribbling like he had rabies. he was mad at me", road rage victim darren young

Wendy Hewitt, prosecuting, said the father-of-two was towing another car on the afternoon of June 1 last year when he was angered by van driver Darren Young.

"The defendant was very close to the back of the van," she said. "He was flashing his lights continuously. Mr Young pulled into the middle lane as soon as there was space.

"The defendant followed him. Mr Young was trying to get away from the aggressive driver. Mr Young saw him in the fast lane almost alongside him.

"He was doing 75mph or more. Mr Young’s speed was 68-70mph. He describes the defendant looking into his vehicle, pointing at him and swearing."

Mr Young later told police: "He was dribbling like he had rabies. He was mad at me."

He did not pull over because Clark looked so angry and he feared being attacked.

Miss Hewitt said Clark eventually "undertook" the van, went alongside it and wrenched open the passenger door.

"It was flapping open and the only thing to do was to brake and stop in the middle of the M25. He had to stop completely."

The horrified judge asked: "In the middle of the M25?"