A boozed up white van man who subjected a taxi driver to a terrifying ordeal in which he brake-checked him, punched his vehicle and rammed him has been jailed. Bradley Iles had downed half a bottle of vodka when for no clear reason he targeted the taxi for some 30 minutes, Bristol Crown Court heard.
The incident only ended after the taxi driver reached Bristol Airport. He was so anxious that as he was chased by Iles the cabbie smashed through the entrance barrier of the long stay car park before smashing through the exit barrier to get out.
Mercifully Iles then made his escape. Police were called in arrested him later in Bristol city centre.
READ MORE: Football fan knocked rival supporter unconscious
Iles, 25, of Pretoria Road in Patchway, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving with excess alcohol and threatening behaviour in September. Judge Mark Horton jailed him for 13 months.
The judge told Iles: "You used the van as a weapon. Away from the incident and alcohol and whatever caused you to be enraged, you are a quiet, hard-working young man." The judge banned Iles from driving for 22 months pending an extended driving test.
The court heard the taxi was on its way to collect a fare from Bristol Airport when Iles overtook him and slammed his brakes on. So began a terrifying cat and mouse chain of events on the A370, which included Iles stopping in front of the taxi and getting out to try and talk to the cabbie.
When the cabbie declined to engage Iles punched his vehicle before chasing him again. The court heard that, at the airport, Iles rammed the taxi before the taxi smashed through the barrier of the long stay car park.
After a chase around the car park the taxi smashed its way out and Iles drove off. Police found him later in Bristol city centre and and he failed a roadside breath test. A later test showed he had 71 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. The limit is 35.
The court heard Iles, of previous good character, had been bereaved of his gran for whom he had lived with and cared for. His mum Deborah told the court: "He's a very good kid, very helpful.
"He is sensitive, he tries to hide his feelings a lot. He's got a really kind heart and this is overwhelmingly sad."
Sign up for our new Bristol's Court Insider newsletter for the latest court and crime news - from arrests to trials and sentencings.
READ NEXT:
