A biker who viciously beat a disabled old soldier in a road rage attack has been jailed for two years.

Brian Deacon punched 77-year-old Harry Harrison through the window of his car and then repeatedly struck him with his walking stick.

Judge Charles Byers told Deacon: "This was one of the worst attacks of its kind. You left a man who has served his country in a state of anxiety."

Deacon, of Westwood Road, East Peckham, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm.

Maidstone Crown Court heard he was riding his motorcycle along North Farm Road, in Tunbridge Wells, on December 5 last year when Mr Harrison pulled out in front of him in his automatic left-hand drive car and turned off.

"This caused Mr Deacon to brake suddenly," said prosecutor Andrew Forsyth. "He pursued the vehicle while waving erratically and sounding his horn.

"He overtook him and pulled quickly in front of him, causing him to perform an emergency stop. Mr Deacon blocked the car with his bike. He got off and approached the nearside of the vehicle."

Deacon, 36, started screaming and shouting at the victim about his driving - before punching him a couple of times through the car window.

It caused Mr Harrison to release the foot brake and knock over Deacon's motorbike.

"That made Mr Deacon - in his words - go ballistic," said Mr Forsyth. "Mr Harrison reached for his walking stick because he has an infirmity.

"As he did so he explained he was disabled. He got the response: 'I will show you what disabled is.' He grappled with the walking stick and struck Mr Harrison again.

"Mr Deacon went to the back of the car and snapped it. He then struck Mr Harrison with the broken walking stick. It caused lacerations to his forearm and thumb."

Onlookers intervened and pulled Deacon away. He was detained until the police arrived.

Deacon said Mr Harrison made him hot-tempered when he was forced to do an emergency stop.

Asked how angry he was on a scale of 1-10, he replied nine or 10. He added it was the angriest he had ever been.

Mr Harrison told in a statement how he was in fear of his life and absolutely terrified.

"He said that despite serving in the Army, he had never felt so shocked," said the prosecutor. "He said it still haunted him. He was left with nervous anxiety."

Judge Byers said it must have been obvious to Deacon as soon as he remonstrated with the victim that he was elderly.

"Despite serving in the Army, he had never felt so shocked..." - Andrew Forsyth, prosecuting

"You struck him when he was defenceless in his car. He protested somewhat naturally that he was disabled and you knew in those circumstances he was vulnerable.

"You grabbed his walking stick, broke it in half and slashed at him causing nasty injuries. There is only one sentence I can pass and that is one of custody."

Paul Greene, defending, said Deacon had mental problems and was receiving treatment.

"It helps to place this horrific incident into some for of context," he said. "He has made efforts to reduce his cannabis intake.

"He was a labourer who was made redundant in March this year. He is now on benefits."