You can’t deliver peopleNews extraordinary amounts...

the with someone of the bonnet of your car. He was trying to call your bluff and you were trying to call his bluff and I expect you were both enraged at that time. I accept that this is totally out of character.’’

The incident happened last July 23, just 13 days after the charges were introduced by airport bosses, who claimed the move would ease ‘growing congestion.’

Benbow, who works at Altrincham Grammar School for Girls, was in the drop off area at the airport when he encountered the official who was explaining the new fees.

Prosecutor Duncan Wilcock said: “The complainant is a gentleman who is employed by the airport to explain the rules and to explain what steps should be taken with regards to the drop-off charges.

“On 23 July this year, the defendant attended the airport to drop someone off. Staff said he immediately began shouting and said he was not going to pay as there were no clear signs saying that he should.

“The defendant reversed his vehicle as he was going to look at the signs but at that point but he noticed one of the barriers was open and began to race towards the barrier to get away with not paying.

‘’The staff member placed himself against the barrier to stop him from doing so but the defendant did not stop. The complainant got onto the bonnet of the car and was in fear of his safety. He remained of the bonnet for several hundred yards while the defendant continued to drive.

“Staff from the airport saw what had taken place and sent information via radio to the police. He went over a roundabout and stopped just before the M65 motorway. He pulled into the side of the road but when the officer tells him to pull his keys from the ignition, he tried to reverse away from the officer.

“In a statement, the complainant said he feared for his life during this incident and genuinely thought that he could die from falling off the bonnet. “He said the defendant was driving in a manic manner across the roundabout.”

Benbow was banned from driving for 12 months and will have to retake his driving test after the disqualification period.

In mitigation, Paul Hodgkinson said: “He had not seen the sign and he was not aware of any drop-off charge at the airport. He has held a respectable job as a teacher for many years.”

Under the new charges drivers are charged £3 for five minutes or £4 for ten to stop outside terminals and the railway station with anyone found ‘circling’ facing a £25 penalty.