A couple’s lives were turned upside down after their vehicles were repeatedly targeted and rammed by an aggressive driver.

Kieran McGee boasted about his malicious actions online after damaging a vehicle by posting a picture alongside the caption: “chat sh*t, get rammed”.

Durham Crown Court heard the 27-year-old, of Benbow Walk, Coundon, used his car as a weapon to intimidate his victims on roads in and around Bishop Auckland. 

He was found guilty of dangerous driving and harassment after subjecting his victims to several terrifying ordeals.

One victim who was targeted by McGee in numerous incidents told police: “This needs sorting before he ends up killing me, he doesn’t care about any consequences about what he does to me.”

The Northern Echo: Kieran McGee boasted about his malicious actions online after damaging a vehicle by posting a picture alongside the caption: “chat sh*t, get rammed”. Kieran McGee boasted about his malicious actions online after damaging a vehicle by posting a picture alongside the caption: “chat sh*t, get rammed”. (Image: Durham police)

Prosecuting, Shaun Dryden told the court that McGee forced one of his victims to mount the pavement to avoid a crash with his vehicle after he attempted to block them in.

A second victim personal statement read out in court read: “He has terrified the life out of me and I don’t go out alone any more, I don’t go out with children, I’m scared to use the car in case he finds me.

“I’m stressed out so much. He’s caused friction between myself and my partner and we have recently broken up because of this. Our children have been affected by this and they have been present when there’s been near misses.”

Mr Dryden added that McGee has a bad record for driving offences, with several previous convictions.

Jonathan Walker, defending, described the 27-year-old as “testing at times and difficult to deal with but underneath he is a pleasant and affable young man”. Mr Walker added that McGee’s ADHD diagnosis is partly responsible for his offending.

However, Judge James Adkin sentenced McGee to 20 months in jail and disqualified him from driving for 18 months.

“This offending is not just borne of impulsivity it is a series of attacks,” Judge Adkin told McGee. “Predominantly, with little or any provocation, you can’t be said to be under great stress when you pass them by chance, nevertheless your reaction to so doing is to use that opportunity to intimidate.

“On the occasion of the 5th of November, you used your motor vehicle to ram a car on multiple occasions. That was your choice and that was borne of aggression and intention to cause fear and anxiety. Worse than that, you seemed to be enjoying the distress you were causing by the photograph you published.

“In my judgement, using a car as a weapon to intimidate means an appropriate judgement can only be achieved by immediate custody.”

Read next: 

Hero off-duty police officer saves woman and dog after they fell into river

Residents slam 'disappointing' and 'let down' Darlington Christmas event

Masked man threatens victim at North East cashpoint a day after armed robbery

If you want to read more stories, why not subscribe to your Northern Echo for as little as £1.25 a week. Click here