A DRIVER who threw a car jack out of his window at another motorist in a road rage incident has been sentenced.

Toby Lee O’Neil followed another motorist out of Dalton and onto the A590 angered by an incident in the town.

He then overtook the other driver and launched the car jack from his window.

It missed the driver and any other vehicles but could have caused serious injury, a court was told.

At Preston Crown Court, O'Neil was sentenced to six months in a youth detention facility and banned from driving for two years and three months.

The 20-year-old, of Low White Close in Barrow, pleaded guilty to causing danger to road users and driving with no insurance when he previously appeared at South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court.

Magistrates had heard that the offence carried a maximum sentence of seven years in prison.

Prosecutor George Shelley described the incident, which happened on July 19 last year.

“This is effectively a road rage incident,” he said.

“There was a verbal disagreement over a vehicle manoeuvre.

“The defendant has followed the motorist and when leaving the other driver has realised he is being followed onto the A590.

“The defendant has then overtaken him and thrown a car jack out the window.

“It landed on the carriageway, missing any vehicles, and didn’t cause any damage to property.

“However it caused danger to other road users.

“It could’ve been more serious had the jack made contact with a vehicle.”

Defence solicitor Michael Graham argued for the case to be sent to the crown court, saying: “Who knows what could’ve happened?”

The court heard at the time that road rage incidents were usually followed by a custodial sentence.

Chair of the bench of magistrates Stephen Sim told the defendant at the earlier hearing: “We have considered this quite seriously and we have taken this as a road rage incident.

“You launched a missile so I feel our sentencing powers are insufficient.”