A Thanet driver stabbed a taxi driver 12 times after a road rage bust up on the Sandwich by-pass.

Furious Vincent Goddard lost his cool after undertaking cabbie Dale Collins on the A256 as the cars headed towards Cliffsend.

After pulling out in front of the Vauxhall Vectra, he braked heavily which led to an exchange of abuse and the cars then pulled up at traffic lights.

It was then a jury at Canterbury Crown Court heard the two men began fighting and ended with Mr Collins receiving 12 wounds.

Prosecutor Vivian Walters told the jury the attack happened two years ago as Mr Collins was in the outside lane of the dual carriageway.

The defendant, also driving a Vauxhall, drove up behind him and took exception the taxi was in the right-hand lane.

He drove very close and Mr Collins could see in his rear-view mirror Goddard, 48, shouting and making hand gestures towards him.

After undertaking at speed he pulled back in front of the taxi driver and braked.

Mr Collins then verbally abused him.

"You drove in a highly dangerous way, deliberately creating a very clear risk of an accident" - Recorder Anthony Clover

At the traffic lights, which were on red, Goddard left his vehicle and Mr Collins, fearful for his female passenger, got out of his car.

Ms Walters said Goddard, of Newcastle Hill, Ramsgate, then grabbed the victim by his T-shirt and began shouting abuse and he threw the first punch.

The two then began scuffling after falling to the ground.

The prosecutor said it was then Mr Collins notice blood coming from a wound on his arm as the two traded blows.

He would later tell police he felt a "strange pinching sensation" from the punches.

Mr Collins eventually pinned Goddard to the ground saying: "Are you going to stop"?

After completing his journey the cabbie realised he was in increasing pain, was bleeding heavily and went to the QEQM Hospital in Thanet.

Ms Walters added doctors discovered numerous puncture wounds to his arm pit, torso, left arm, chest, head and neck.

Goddard, who has 11 previous convictions for 22 offences, denied driving dangerously or wounding his victim with intent but was convicted by the jury.

Peter Eguae, defending, said Goddard, who looks after his elderly father, suffers from depression and anxiety.

He is unemployed because of his medical condition.

Recorder Anthony Clover in jailing Goddard for 38 months, told him: "This was monumentally dangerous driving.

"You drove your car in a highly dangerous way, deliberately creating a very clear risk of an accident.

"You had in your hand some implement and whatever it was you repeatedly stabbed the other motorist 12 times and he needed surgery."

The judge added: "Your victim was streaming with blood.

"His wounds were by no means trivial and whatever this implement was it was a weapon and you used it as such."

Goddard was banned from driving for two years and must take an extended driving test before being allowed on the road again.