A DRIVER has been banned after he drove through a red light and knocked over a lorry driver following a road rage row.

Jamie Peacock was told his behaviour amounted to a "serious piece of dangerous driving" when he was sentenced at Bradford Crown Court yesterday.

The 41-year-old was involved in a confrontation with lorry driver Andrew Kennedy, who was turning left at crossroads in Hipperholme, on December 3 last year.

Peacock was driving next to the lorry, in the right-hand lane, and failed to give Mr Kennedy enough room to perform his manoeuvre.

Prosecutor Samuel Andrews said the two men exchanged angry words, with Mr Kennedy shouting and using abusive language towards Peacock before getting out of the lorry.

He added Mr Kennedy entered into a "tirade of abuse" from the lorry's window.

"It is clear Mr Kennedy got out to confront the defendant," Mr Andrews said.

A DVD of footage of the two men arguing, taken from inside the lorry, was shown to the court.

Peacock then drove away in his Vauxhall Astra, through a red light, and knocked Mr Kennedy over, causing him minor injuries. Peacock narrowly avoided hitting a second man, the court was told.

Peacock, of Fairfax Crescent, Bierley, Bradford, told police he drove away because he was scared and did not realise he had hit the victim.

Peacock pleaded guilty to a charge of dangerous driving at a previous hearing. Charges of attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm and assault occasioning actual bodily harm were left on file.

Clare Walsh, mitigating, said: "His life has changed substantially. He is a family man and he lives with his mother who has lupus.

"He has a grandmother who lives fairly locally who he sees during various times of the week."

Sentencing, Judge Peter Benson said: "It was a serious piece of dangerous driving. You drove in a dangerous fashion."

The judge told Peacock he had caused an obstruction to Mr Kennedy.

"There was an exchange of words. He [Mr Kennedy] got out of his cab and you drove off very quickly indeed.

"You knocked him to the ground and caused him a minor injury," Judge Benson added.

"You narrowly missed a young man who was crossing the road at the time.

"It is a serious matter which requires punishment."

Peacock was banned from driving for 15 months and ordered to carry out 200 hours unpaid work in the community within the next 12 months. He was told he must also complete an extended driving test once his ban is completed.

He was previously banned from driving in 1996.