by Annette Wilson

Lewis Leggatt, 26, of Cobblers Bridge Road, Herne Bay was sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court for assaulting a cyclist, when he cut the man's ear with car keys following a road rage confrontation.

He was also sentenced for dangerous driving when, in another road rage incident, he reversed his car, trapping a motorist between the two vehicles and causing the victim leg injuries.

Leggatt had admitted both offences and was told by Judge Adele Williams that such offences would not be tolerated.

Leggatt's offences were made the more serious because of his previous convictions and the fact he committed the dangerous driving while on bail for the earlier assault causing actual bodily harm.

Judge Williams said road rage was a very serious matter and told Leggatt he had a very bad record for a man of his age. "This is not an example of momentary loss of temper or of acting out of character. The offences demonstrate you have little control over your temper," Judge Williams told Leggatt.

At the time he reversed into Kevin Joyce, Leggatt was also subject of a community order for battery.

Judge Williams said Leggatt had been disgruntled at the reactions of cyclist Gary Todd in February, who had spat at Leggatt's car after he nearly knocked Mr Todd and a friend off their bikes.

Mr Todd had also gestured at Leggatt, who then reversed back and confronted Mr Todd.

A scuffle broke out during which Mr Todd restrained Leggatt in a headlock before his ear was cut with Leggatt's car keys. He later needed stitches to the injury.

In October, Leggatt had been tailgating Mr Joyce as he drove home and Mr Joyce pulled over and made a gesture of surprise to Leggatt who reversed and trapped Mr Joyce. A witness likened Leggatt's driving to that of a boy racer.

Judge Williams said: "Offences of this kind will not be tolerated. When behind the wheel you become a dangerous demon and that is something this court finds very disturbing. Sentencing guidelines to not apply because of similar offences and you committed the second offence when on bail.

"I regard the dangerous driving at the very tip of the scale because of deliberate reversing into the victim," concluded Judge Williams.

Leggatt was jailed for eight months for the assault and 16 months for the dangerous driving, totalling two years.

He must take an extended test before he drives again.