A BANNED driver pursued his victim for two miles and rammed into a car in a road rage incident, a court has heard.

Kevin McCarthy lost his temper on Monday, June 3, when Lorraine Flower overtook a parked van in Halstead Road, Eight Ash Green.

After a near-miss, McCarthy put on his brakes, turned around, and pursued Mrs Flower for two miles in his Vauxhall Astra.

Hearing - Ross McCarthy turned up to Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday using crutchesHearing - Ross McCarthy turned up to Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday using crutches (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest)

McCarthy, who was with his partner and an 11-year-old child, tried to overtake Mrs Flower as she turned into a junction, causing an accident.

Dashcam footage, which was played to Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday, showed McCarthy and Mrs Flower confront one another at the side of the road before the defendant drove off.

McCarthy caused £2,000 of damage to Mrs Flower’s Nissan Juke and later admitted charges of using a vehicle without insurance, driving a vehicle without a licence, dangerous driving, failing to stop after an accident, and failing to provide a specimen.

Eleanor Sheerin, prosecuting, said the incident stemmed “from an incident of road rage”.

Footage captured whilst Mrs Flower was being tailgated recorded her saying: “He’s slammed on the brakes and turned around.

“Bring it, mate, because it’s going to be the worst thing you will ever ****ing do – I would ****ing back off if I was you.”

McCarthy, 46, had 51 convictions for 105 offences, and entered the dock using crutches after suffering a broken leg the same day as the incident.

Daniel Setter, mitigating, said it was difficult to defend McCarthy’s actions which left a child injured.

He said: “There’s very little that can be said that mitigates this – he should never have been driving in any event.”

He added McCarthy’s imprisonment would mean he may never see his father again because he lives in Ireland and has terminal cancer.

Incident - Ross McCarthy turned his car around and pursued Lorraine Flowers after she overtook a parked van in Halstead RoadIncident - Ross McCarthy turned his car around and pursued Lorraine Flower after she overtook a parked van in Halstead Road (Image: Google Street View)

His Honour Recorder Christie said McCarthy, of Poultry Close, Fordham Heath, showed an “aggressive” standard of driving and said it was the defendant who nearly caused the accident, not the victim. 

He said: “I have seen the dashcam which shows a minor, minor crossing over on the other side of the road, and it was only because you were travelling at such speed that it caused you inconvenience.”

McCarthy was jailed for 15 months.