Tailgater forced woman to crash into parked car in Wolverhampton
A motorist who tailgated a disabled woman along a Black Country road before hitting her car and forcing her to smash into a parked vehicle has been banned from driving.
But driver Craig Bartlett was spared jail after a judge suspended a 36-week prison sentence for two years.
Bartlett targeted the woman as she travelled with her 10-year-old daughter along a residential street in Bradmore, Wolverhampton.
The court was told that Bartlett tailgated the woman before moving out to overtake. They exchanged glances as he raced alongside her.
He then feigned to hit her car with his Ford Focus before an actual collision sent his victim crashing into a parked car.
Mr Justin Jarmola described the events which happened in October 2011 to Wolverhampton Crown Court. He said: "The complainant was driving along Oxbarn Avenue and she had her 10-year-old child in the car.
"The defendant drove at the side of her and they exchanged a few looks.
"They were driving at about 30mph and this defendant feigned, or certainly caused his vehicle, to swerve towards the defendant's car. There was a second swerve with his Ford Focus but this time the car was hit and the complainant collided with a parked vehicle.
"The aggravating features of this offence are that the defendant made attempts to swerve his car into the complainant, there was a child in the car and he caused the victim to collide with other cars."
The 23-year-old left the scene following the smash on Oxbarn Avenue and only handed himself into police when a friend was arrested over the crash. There were no serious injuries suffered in the collision.
Miss Kate Thomas, defending, said: "He's a young man who has a number of health problems. He suffers with his back and he practically becomes bed ridden and his mother affectively becomes a full time carer for him.
"Mr Bartlett walked into a police station and admitted dangerous driving and he entered his guilty plea at the first available opportunity."
Bartlett, of Cornwall Road, Tettenhall, pleaded guilty to a charge of dangerous driving.
Judge Martin Walsh sentenced him to a 36 week prison sentence suspended for two years. He was also put on electronic tag for four months and must reside at his home address between the hours of 7pm and 7am. Bartlett was also banned from driving for three years.
The judge said: "This woman was disabled and was driving with her 10-year-old daughter in the vehicle. You drove alongside her in an aggressive manner and without doubt it was aggressive driving on your part."
