A “ROAD rage” driver who rammed a cyclist off his bike after the he kicked his sports car has been banned from driving.

Christopher Large “brushed” against a cyclist as he drove his Audi TT along Foregate Street in Worcester, sparking a disagreement.

Large, aged 44, of Bath Road, Worcester, admitted careless driving at Worcester Magistrates Court following the incident in Foregate Street and Castle Street at about 2.15pm on October 8 last year.

Sallie Hewitt, prosecuting, said that Large’s car brushed against the pannier of a pedal cycle ridden by Simon Boswell.

Contact was ‘minimal’ but an argument began when Mr Boswell caught up with Large at traffic lights.

She said: “The argument resulted in Mr Boswell kicking the defendant’s car, causing damage to the side of the vehicle. He feared that the driver was going to get out of his car and rode off. It was as he attempted to get away that the driver struck him from behind with the car, causing the wheel to buckle and the cyclist to fall off his bike. Mr Boswell cut his arm and required treatment from an ambulance person but did not go to hospital.”

Large pulled up at the BP garage in Castle Street and walked across to Worcester police station to report the incident.

In interview Large said that Mr Boswell chased him on his bike and was “shouting abuse” at him.

He also said that he had been trying to block Mr Boswell’s escape route because he had caused “criminal damage” to his car rather than knock him off.

Large told the judge: “He said ‘is this an expensive car?’ and kicked it three or four times. I just clipped the back of his bike and he fell off. Both of us should have known better.”

Mr Boswell said in a statement that he asked Large “can’t you steer that thing?” and that Large offered no apology.

He also claimed that girls in the car with Large were laughing and that he feared the driver might get out.

Mr Boswell also said he suffered a “deep laceration” to his elbow which needed a bandage, grazes to his hand and was lying on his back for five minutes after the collision.

District judge Kevin Greco said: “When adults behave like children it’s bad enough but when they’re in charge of vehicles, it’s even worse. There’s a clear element of road rage involved here. Your behaviour was entirely regrettable. You have admitted careless driving but this is perilously close to dangerous driving. The consequences of your behaviour could have been far worse.”

Large’s licence will be endorsed with eight penalty points to add to his existing six which led to a six month driving ban.

He was also fined £200 and ordered to pay £60 costs.