Driver who rammed biker escapes jail

A driver who repeatedly rammed a motorcyclist because he was in a hurry has escaped jail.

School teacher Christopher Parker, 56, received only a fine and driving ban for bumping his Volvo into businessman Robert Hill’s BMW motorcycle up to three times.

Company director Hill kept control of his motorcycle thanks to his 43 years’ riding experience, Leeds Crown Court heard.

Parker told a police support officer who witnessed the incident, on Spen Lane in Leeds last May, that he was “in a hurry”. He had been on his way to work as a supply teacher at Cranshaw School in Pudsey.

Prosecutor Mehran Nassiri said: “The Crown accepts (Parker] is a respectable family man, he has never been in trouble, but road rage is emanated from people from all walks of life. They don’t have to be criminals to commit road rage.”

Parker was fined £1000 with £750 costs, banned for a year and ordered to take an extended driving test when the ban ends.