A MOTORIST who drove at a group of people in Bowness – injuring one of them – has been warned he could now be sent to prison. 

Nathaniel Peter John Lockie, 27, appeared at Carlisle Crown Court yesterday.

He pleaded guilty to one count of dangerous driving in an Audi following an incident at The Glebe on June 7. 

Prosecutor Wayne Jackson told the court: "The reality is that the mischief of what took place was the fact that in a fracas that was taking place outside the Ship Inn, between two competing parties where tempers were frayed, the defendant got in a black Audi and drove towards a group of people." 

One of them was Boris Gaj. He was struck by the vehicle and suffered a large red mark to his right leg.

The court heard Lockie was a man of previous good character. 

Defence lawyer Chris McKee said: "He is 27 and has got a young family." 

Judge Tony Lancaster adjourned the case and asked for a pre-sentence report to be prepared. 

"The gravamen of the offence was driving at a group of people in a furious manner," he noted. 

And the judge told Lockie: "You should appreciate that driving in the way in which you did towards a group of people, and striking somebody, is so serious that the court ought to consider the question of immediate custody." 

Judge Lancaster said the pre-sentence report would look at mitigating factors in the case, and added: 

"There may be matters that allow the court to step back from that." 

Lockie, of Norwood Avenue, Southport, is due to be sentenced on May 27.