A MOTORIST put himself at risk of an immediate prison sentence after becoming embroiled in a road rage confrontation with another driver, a court heard.

Jeffrey Humphreys and the other driver clashed on the A183 between Bournmoor and the Blind Lane interchange of the A1(M), at Chester-le-Street, after an initial verbal exchange at a nearby petrol filling station.

Durham Crown Court heard that Humphreys tried to block the other car, a silver Vauxhall Astra, at a junction, and was then almost forced to swerve into the wrong lane.

Both drove through red lights at the interchange, before heading back up the A183, where Humphreys tailgated the Astra, which braked, causing a collision.

They then each went their separate ways, but both reported the incident to police, blaming the other party.

Humphreys, 52, of Whinlaw, Gateshead, admitted dangerous driving, arising from the incident on July 30, last year His barrister, Tony Davis, told the court the defendant put his clean driving licence and, even his liberty, at risk, “due to a momentary loss of temper”, following the initial comment made by the other driver.

Imposing a ten-month prison sentence, suspended for a year, Judge Simon Hickey told Humphreys other road users were put in danger. Humphreys was also banned from driving for two years.