A Bradford teacher whose skull was fractured with a torch in a violent road-rage attack said he has not let the incident ruin his life - despite still suffering health problems years later.

Speaking after his attacker, wheel clamper Christopher Rose, was jailed for three years and nine months, Darren Simpson, said: "I will not let it beat me. I will keep on going."

Mr Simpson, 35, of Royds Hall Avenue, Wibsey, also heard he will receive £1,000 compensation for suffering caused by the attack in December 2001.

"I was not in it for the financial gain, but obviously because of the grievance I had after the attack it is nice to know I will get compensation," said Mr Simpson who teaches motor vehicle maintenance at Barnsley College.

Christopher Rose, 33 - behind a car-clamping firm called National Parking Control - fractured Mr Simpson's skull with a torch during a road-rage incident in December 2001.

Yesterday Bradford Crown Court heard how Mr Simpson was hit on the side of the head after Rose cut in front of him on a roundabout in Manchester Road.

Although he later went to hospital because he felt unwell he was able to discharge himself the next day.

Today Mr Simpson, a father-of-two, said: "I believe the sentence is fair for the crime he committed. He is a nasty piece of work.

"When I went to hospital I could not recognise my partner or tell doctors what job I did. I could have suffered long-term defects. I also missed out on Christmas with my two children as I was still struggling with the effects of the attack. I could not drive or walk for days."

The court also heard how a second attack was committed by Rose in March 2002 when he beat up a man in Huddersfield whose car he and a colleague had just clamped.

Stephen Ward was unhappy at paying out £286 and was punched and kicked by Rose and another man.

Rose, of Oakwood Close, Leeds, last year admitted an offence of causing Mr Simpson grievous bodily harm. Yesterday he also admitted an assault charge relating to Mr Ward, who subsequently died although it was nothing to do with the attack.

The case has been delayed partly because Rose absconded when he was due to stand trial in October 2002. The court heard that he had also tried to escape from two police officers after he was taken to a hospital in Leeds for treatment to a suspected broken leg.

Rose, who had previous convictions for dishonesty offences, violence and driving while disqualified, also admitted charges of driving while banned, failing to surrender to court and escaping from lawful custody.

In addition to jailing him, Recorder Peter Kelson QC ordered Rose to pay Mr Simpson £1,000.

Jason McAdam, for Rose, conceded that a prison sentence was inevitable.

He suggested that Rose had matured during the nine months he had been in custody and had shown some insight into his offending.

Rose was ordered to serve consecutive sentences of 18 months each for the two attacks and a further six months and three months, respectively, for the breach of his bail and driving while disqualified. He was banned from driving for a year.