Driver’s rage caught by his own dashboard cam

A man ended up on a dangerous driving charge after be became frustrated at another car stubbornly hogging the fast lane of a motorway, a court heard.

But a judge had some sympathy for Connor Heaton and imposed only 100 hours unpaid work and disqualified him for the minimum period of 12 months.

Recorder David Jeremy QC did, however, declared that 24-yearold Heaton, of Duck Lane, Canterbury, and the other driver Phillip Cotter were “as bad as each other”.

Maidstone Crown Court heard the driving on the M2 in the early morning of March 5 last year at speeds of up to 86mph was captured on the dash cam of Heaton’s Renault works van.

Film from it was shown to a jury in June when Cotter, of Park Avenue, Birchington, was acquitted of dangerous driving but convicted of careless driving. He denied both charges.

He was fined £400 with £100 costs and his licence was endorsed with six penalty points.

The incident started on the Thanet Way near Faversham at about 6.20am on March 5 last year.

As Cotter’s Ford Mondeo travelled in the fast lane Heaton approached from behind at high speed, flashing his lights.

Instead of moving over Cotter responded by braking sharply. He continued at a slow speed with the van continuing behind closely with his main beam flashing.

At one stage, because of the slow pace another car “undertook” both of them.

The van did the same as Cotter, 55, tried to block him. Cotter then tried to undertake the van and which veered over to block him.

Cotter sped up and clipped the front nearside of the van as

‘Speeds of up to 86mph were captured on the dash cam of Heaton’s Renault works van’

he cut across it. The Mondeo’s bumper was left hanging off.

They both stopped on the hard shoulder and heated words were exchanged before they drove off.

Heaton’s employer, C A Drillers, of Whitstable, handed the dash cam footage to police.

Craig Evans, defending, said the company had to employ another driver because of Heaton being banned and the extra expense was being taken out of his pay.

Recorder Jeremy said of the bad driving: “It was provoked by Mr Cotter for what other road users find frustrating, and that is hogging the outside lane.”

Heaton will have to take an extended driving test before he gets his licence back.

Connor Heaton was banned from driving for 12 months