A ROAD rage driver who rammed a car in which his ex-girlfriend was a passenger has been jailed for three months.

Mathew Morris followed the vehicle for several miles and rammed it three times, Preston Crown Court heard.

Morris also banged his fists on the Mazda 323 and tried to block its path during the incident on the outskirts of Horwich.

The 24-year-old recovery driver, of Daffodil Road, Farnworth, admitted dangerous driving, and was also banned for 18 months.

The incident took place in June last year when the woman was out with her new boyfriend.

Miss Julie Taylor, prosecuting, said that the couple left a pub and while driving on to Chorley New Road, Horwich, they noticed a vehicle had started to follow them. On the A6, heading towards Bolton, the Volkswagen Polo began overtaking them and they saw it was Morris.

The defendant did a handbrake turn on the road. At another point, when both vehicles had come to a halt, Morris approached the Mazda, shouting at them and banging his fists on the car.

Swerved

The car was again followed and attempts made to overtake it.

At one point, the driver ended up boxed in and Morris swerved towards him in what appeared an attempt to drive him off the road.

Later, Morris followed it on the A673 and the A6 Bolton Road, towards Chorley.

Miss Taylor added: "The defendant deliberately rammed into the back of the car three times."

Rodney Pritchard, defending, said that Morris and the girl had had at one time planned to marry.

He said that Morris had an impeccable character, was hard-working and highly unlikely to re-offend.

Recorder Philip Grundy told Morris his driving had put the lives of many residents at risk.

He said "There in a high risk that this type of driving will result in innocent members of the public being killed or seriously injured. A manifestation of your road rage requires an immediate custodial sentence."

He banned the defendant from driving for 18 months, after which he must take a test.