AN argument following a minor bump between two vehicles sparked a road rage row leading to an innocent motorist clinging to the bonnet of a speeding car before being hurled onto a motorway.

Miraculously he suffered only minor injuries and another car managed to swerve to avoid running him over, a court heard today, Friday.

Jailing David Shaw, orginally from Warrington, for 21 months, Judge Mark Brown told him, "You were effectively using your vehicle as a weapon."

Liverpool Crown Court heard that after the incident began on a slip road to the M53 Shaw drove onto the motorway with the other motorist, Stephen Murphy, clinging onto the bonnet and Shaw repeatedly swerved to throw him off.

Judge Brown said that it had been 'an extremely dangerous' incident and it was 'a miracle of circumstances' that he was not struck by another vehicle on the motorway.

"Indeed one driver reports it was an extremely close thing and only able to take avoiding action at the very last moment," he added.

He told the father-of-three, who has 21 previous convictions, "You drove in a dangerous and wanton fashion. It must have been obvious that he was in a precarious situation."

The judge banned Shaw, of Birkenhead,, from driving for three years. He had admitted dangerous driving and assault causing actual bodily harm.

Martine Snowdon, prosecuting, told the court that at 6.50 pm on July 24, 2013, Mr Murphy was stationary at traffic lights on the A41 at Eastham intending to head on the motorway towards Chester.

Shaw's Vauxhall Astra bumped the rear bumper of his van and he got out to speak to the driver and smelling alcohol asked if he had been drinking and mentioned seeing him in an earlier collision.

"That caused things to go sour and an argument ensued.

“The defendant got back in his car, reversed a little and then drove it forward. Because of the layout of the road and other vehicles Mr Murphy had nowhere to go and had to jump onto the bonnet and was clinging on as he drove faster and faster."

He tried to make a phone call for help but realised he needed both hands to hang on as it went faster along the M53. "Witnesses saw the vehicle swerving from side to side as if to shake him off. After three swerves he landed in the roadway."

Later at hospital it was found he had suffered grazes and bruises and needed four stitches in a laceration to his head, said Miss Snowdon.

Shaw was arrested in the early hours of the next morning when police went to his home and found him asleep and the car key in his pocket.

Julian Linskill, defending, said that 28-year-old Shaw came from a dysfunctional family in Warrington and developed a reputation with police and social services.

He said Shaw did not get out of his car and should have just exchanged details and after the incident he should not driven off but he just continued on to work. On arrival he was so shook up that he was sent home and he took a sleeping tablet and went bed.

If jailed he would lose his job and be unable to support his new partner and their young child, added Mr Linksilll.