SATELLITE fitter Steven Jones spat at a female motorist and attacked her car with a hammer in a road-rage incident, a court was told yesterday.

Harrogate magistrates heard how Jones, 30, had twice had his white van followed by Georgina Campell, 27, after an angry confrontation outside her home in Albert Street, Harrogate.

Michael Hammond, prosecuting, said Jones spat in Ms Campbell's face as he drove off and that she followed in her hired Renault Clio, intent on noting the van's number.

The court was told that she followed him along Cold Bath Road and into Diamond Place, where the verbal exchanges with Jones continued.

Mr Hammond said Ms Campbell had thrown a bottle of water over Jones and his brother, Harry Cox, who had been cautioned for his part in the incident, before trying to reverse into the van .

Jones pulled out a hammer and smashed one of the Clio's headlights and hit its bonnet.

When Ms Campbell reached through an open window to prevent Jones driving off, she was dragged for 10ft before hitting the ground and suffering bruises and grazes to her chest, stomach, knees and elbows.

Jones, of Bramham Drive, Harrogate, admitted causing £550 damage and threatening behaviour provoking fear of violence. Mr Hammond said Jones told police Ms Campbell had been "like a mad woman" in her pursuit of his van.

Geoffrey Rogers, in mitigation, said Jones had to brake harshly because Ms Campbell walked into the middle of the road and said that triggered the road rage incident, which began with abuse from both sides.

Jones was ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work and abide by an 8pm to 6am curfew each Friday and Saturday for three months. He will also have to pay Ms Campbell £400 for her injuries and £110 in court costs.