A COMPANY director with a narcissistic personality disorder drove his lease vehicle at a bailiff who turned up to confiscate the expensive sports car.

Myles Jasper had missed a number of payments for the Mercedes C250 when the civil enforcement officer visited his home on the Wynyard estate near Stockton.

The 27-year-old was furious and "his face was contorted with rage" when he was confronted, prosecutor Peter Sabiston told Teesside Crown Court.

In a bid to avoid being crushed between the Mercedes and his recovery truck, the official jumped on the bonnet of the sports car.

Jasper had been going "at little more than walking pace", but sped up as he got closer to the bailiff, Mr Sabiston said.

After being carried on the bonnet, he jumped off, landed on his feet and escaped without any injuries.

The following day, Jasper rang him and "maintained his very unpleasant abuse and threats", the prosecutor told Judge Sean Morris.

During the trial, the official said he was not bothered about what was said, because he has to deal with such things every day as part of his job.

The court heard that a psychiatrist and a forensic psychologist agreed that Jasper's disorder creates a perceived self-superiority with little empathy towards others.

Yvonne Taylor, mitigating, said he reacted badly to his false persona being threatened on January 2.

She said since his arrest and remand in prison, the property developer has completed courses in bricklaying and joinery, has had cleaning duties, and made nets and camouflage for the army.

When he is released – after losing the house in Wynyard – he will go to live with his aunt and uncle in County Durham, Miss Taylor said.

Jasper, whose address on the court files is Stockton Road, Castle Eden, near Peterlee, was found guilty of dangerous driving and common assault, and was jailed for 16 months.

Judge Morris, who also imposed a three-year roads ban to begin when he is released, told him: "The jury, on overwhelming evidence, convicted you. You drove at a man who was a civil recovery debt agent. He was doing his job. It could have gone horribly wrong.

"Luckily, there were no injuries, but it was your motive that is the serious aspect in this. You lost it and drove straight at him.

"You have a narcissistic personality. You tend to consider yourself above everybody else, and when people bring reality to life for you, and when people burst your bubble, you react angrily."