A LOTHERSDALE man has been ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work after subjecting a woman and her five-year-old to a "terrifying" road rage ordeal.

Richard Pearson, 23, turned his car around and chased after the woman as she drove through Lothersdale after collecting her child from school on January 29, Skipton Magistrates' Court heard.

Pearson, of Rook Street, who had already pleaded guilty to using threatening, abusive words or behaviour at an earlier hearing, struggled to control his anger when driving, the court was told at his sentencing on Friday. He claimed the woman had forced him off the road, causing damage to his car, and that he had chased after her to get insurance details.

The court heard how the woman had watched in her rear view mirror as Pearson sped up behind her, hunched over the wheel and "clearly unhappy".

He swung his car in front of her, forcing an emergency stop, before getting out, shouting and kicking at her door, leaving her fearing for her and her children's safety.

Pearson was traced after the woman – who also had a sleeping baby in the car – took a picture as he drove off.

In a victim statement, read out in court, the woman described how her son had suffered nightmares and bed wetting afterwards, was upset about going through Lothersdale and would ask "if the naughty man had gone to jail yet".

She also described how her husband had felt helpless, believing he should have been there to protect his family.

Pearson had previously been convicted of the assault of a cyclist in 2015 and seemed unable to control his aggression when behind the wheel, the court heard.

A report from the probation service said Pearson chased after the woman believing she had forced him off the road, causing damage to his car costing £300 to repair.

He claimed to have wanted her insurance details, had asked her to open her window, but that she had "stuck fingers up at him" and driven off.

His behaviour appeared to be linked to aggressive driving and he struggled to maintain his temper when driving, concluded the report.

In mitigation, John Mewies suggested the woman was unfamiliar with the road and was using it as a short-cut to Lancashire.

Mr Mewies added Pearson, a ground worker at the time, but who had since lost his job, may have been tired and irritable at the time, but that it did not excuse his actions.

"His family are worried about his anger management – he is not angry at home, but they are aware of this and the previous incident," he said.

Magistrates told Pearson it would have been an extremely distressing incident for the woman and her child. His behaviour had been "unacceptable and terrifying" on a dark evening in a rural location.

Pearson was given the direct alternative to prison of a 12-month community order with 200 hours' unpaid work.

He will also have to complete 20 days of rehabilitation activity requirement, pay compensation of £200 to the woman, costs of £85 and a £60 surcharge.