A father who deliberately drove his car into a disabled man during a school run road-rage attack has been spared jail.

Michael Flynn struck Ricky Stone 'in pure anger' as he stood with his wife Samantha outside their home opposite a primary school in Snodland.

Just minutes earlier the 49-year-old had threatened Mr Stone after he complained about Flynn's manner of driving and repeated use of his driveway to turn his Volvo round.

A court heard Flynn's five-year-old daughter was in the passenger seat of the vehicle as he drove it towards the couple.

Mr Stone, said to have limited mobility, managed to push his wife out of the way before he was hit on the driveway.

He was thrown onto the car bonnet and landed on the ground pinned between a wall and the vehicle.

The horrific incident occurred as children were being collected from St Katherine's Primary School at about 3pm on September 18 last year.

Having hit Mr Stone, Flynn 's Volvo was blocked by other vehicles. But he shunted backwards and forwards until he was able to drive away along the pavement.

One witness later told police Flynn seemed 'very angry', Maidstone Crown Court was told.

"Although he was not travelling fast he was driving with purpose and revving his engine," she said.

"It was a deliberate act done in pure anger."

Mr Stone, registered disabled as a result of an accident 17 years ago, was taken to hospital but scans revealed he had not sustained any bone fractures.

However, he did suffer bruising to his knees, with pain to his neck, shoulder and hips.

"It was a deliberate act done in pure anger..." - witness

Mrs Stone had bruising to her shin, but also suffered psychological harm from seeing her husband being hit.

Flynn, of Saltings Road, Snodland, admitted assaulting Mr Stone causing actual bodily harm, and assault by beating of Mrs Stone.

Passing sentence on Thursday, Judge David Griffith-Jones QC said the 'disgraceful' incident was aggravated by its location, the use of a car as a weapon, and his previous convictions for violence.

Furthermore, the judge told Flynn he had limited insight into his behaviour, no empathy for his victims, and was still 'in large part' in denial as to what happened.

His actions, he added, were committed in anger, were 'quite inexcusable' and could have had 'extreme' consequences.

But the judge said he could suspend the nine-month jail term for two years having been told of Flynn's 'challenging family situation'.

It was said he was the primary carer for his children aged two and six as his partner had physical health problems.

She also had an adult daughter from a previous relationship who was severely mentally disabled, suffering from schizhophrenia and autism.

Passing sentence, Judge Griffith-Jones said: "Fortunately, neither of your victims sustained serious physical injury, no broken bones, but the psychological and consequential effects have been very considerable.

"Plainly, these offences are of high culpability given the use of your car as a weapon and the location - at their home, in public, opposite a primary school with witnesses present, including children.

"It is also to be noted that in spite of what you did, you then chose to decamp from the scene."

But he added he did not 'underestimate the pressures' of his own family life and that imprisonment would have a 'very significant' impact.

"A sentence of imprisonment is demanded, nothing less will do," said Judge Griffith-Jones.

"But principally in the interests of your children I am prepared to give you another chance by suspending the imposition of that sentence."

Flynn was told he must carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and take part in 25 days of a rehabilitation activity requirement.

Prosecutor Eleanor Scott-Davies told the court Mr Stone had 'good days and bad days' in terms of his mobility.

"The defendant became angry and pushed his head against Mr Stone, saying he would be back in 10 minutes 'to have him'..." - prosecutor Eleanor Scott-Davies

At the time of the attack he had been helping his son with DIY and was unloading tools on his driveway in St Katherine's Lane.

Two weeks earlier, a new school term had started and Flynn had been seen dropping off and picking up a child while 'driving at speed' and using their property to manoeuvre, said the prosecutor.

Mrs Stone pointed him out to her husband and he went to speak to him.

"He asked him not to use his driveway to turn around," said Miss Scott-Davies.

"The defendant became angry and pushed his head against Mr Stone, saying he would be back in 10 minutes 'to have him'.

"The defendant was then seen dragging a young girl at the top of the road. With his engine revving and tyres spinning, he then drove at speed onto the driveway."

The court heard Flynn got out of his car and began to take photos of Mr Stone. He then returned to his car and reversed.

Miss Scott-Davies said: "He looked as if he was going to collide with a van. The defendant then stared back up the drive towards Mr Stone.

"He managed to push his wife out of the way as the defendant drove at him. Mrs Stone later said she saw the car collide into her husband who went onto the bonnet and fell onto the ground.

"The defendant reversed off the drive but was blocked by other vehicles. He shunted back and forth and then drove along the pavement to get away."

Police were called and Flynn was flagged down and arrested.

The court heard that Mr Stone had been seen with a hammer in his hand during the altercation but it was not used in a threatening way.

However, Flynn falsely claimed the victim had run at him with the tool, hit the Volvo and dragged his daughter out.

He added he was 'shocked' that he had then 'made contact' with Mr Stone.

Flynn has 11 previous convictions for 38 offences, including assault causing actual bodily harm and common assault. He was also cautioned for affray in 2010.

Tom Dunn, defending, said the incident was triggered by the 'unsettling experience' of being confronted outside the school gates with his child by Mr Stone.

Urging the court to impose a suspended sentence, Mr Dunn added: "There is a difficult family situation. This is out of character and unlikely to be repeated."