A ‘VULNERABLE’ disabled pensioner was knocked to the ground and punched and kicked in a ‘horrendous’ road rage incident in Weston.

William White, aged 64, said he was ‘really scared’ when Lee Mutch attacked him in Moorland Road on August 6.

Mutch, aged 41 and of Bristol Road Lower, was spared jail by magistrates at North Somerset Courthouse this week.

The court heard how Mr White overtook Mutch’s vehicle, which Mr White said was swerving and travelling between five and 10 miles per hour, on Uphill Road North.

After Mr White parked in Moorland Road, Mutch got out of his vehicle and shouted at him.

In a statement read out in court, Mr White, who is registered disabled, said: “I cannot remember any of what he was shouting because it happened so fast and I was taken by surprise.

“He punched me a number of times, I have no idea how many times, to the face and head.

“I hit my head on the curb. The attack seemed to go on forever.

“I was really scared about what he was going to do. I did not know what I had done to offend him or if he had any weapons.”

Mr White was taken to Weston General Hospital with cuts and bruises.

Defending, Paul Ricketts said: “The defendant has demonstrated he has some insight into the impact of the offence, and said ‘it must have been horrendous for him’.

“In my opinion, drug addiction was a significant factor. The defendant has started to address his drug use.”

Magistrates said the crime was aggravated by the apparent ‘road rage’, the victim’s age, and the fact his wife was also in the car.

Magistrates said: “We have heard the truly horrendous, appalling matter of the assault that you inflicted upon the victim.

“Those aggravating circumstances make it the most serious of cases of common assault we could hear.”

Mutch was sentenced 26 weeks in jail, suspended for two years, and ordered to obey a curfew and pay £260 costs and £80 victim surcharge.