Man who rammed bike is spared jail

Shuhayed Munim rammed the biker in London Road, Southend, on September 29, after both parties became bad-tempered, Basildon Crown Court heard.

The 36-year-old then got out of his car and made further threats as he loomed over the stricken man, who suffered a broken collarbone and extensive bruising.

Elizabeth Cobb, prosecuting, said the incident started when Munim pulled out onto London Road from Park Lane in a black Vauxhall Zafira.

She said: “The victim noticed the Vauxhall and there was a passenger in the front seat. The Vauxhall was trying to turn right but he didn’t have time to allow the car to pull out.

“Nevertheless the car pulled out so quickly its wheels spun. The victim braked suddenly and beeped his horn.

“The passenger displayed a finger gesture and he continued to follow the Vauxhall. It braked sharply a number of times in front of him, causing him to brake sharply also.”

The victim, riding a blue Honda, then decided to pass the Vauxhall on the left hand side but the defendant accelerated to pull alongside him.

Miss Cobb said Munim shouted “we are going to have you” before pulling left and knocking the victim off his bike.

She said: “While on the floor he describes the defendant and passenger coming over and continuing to verbally abuse him. The police arrived and the defendant was arrested.”

Munim told police: “The idiot braked hard in front of me. I had to swerve around him. I had no choice.”

The court heard Munim has an “extensive” criminal record. He denied dangerous driving but changed his plea on the day of his trial last month.

Tessa Shroff, mitigating, said witnesses described both Munim and the victim antagonising each other.

She read a statement from one which said: “I saw the motorcycle swerve in towards the car, then I saw the car swerving back, doing the same. I realised it was a road rage incident.”

Recorder John Coffey QC handed Munim an 18 month jail term suspended for two years. He was disqualified for 12 months.