A MOTORIST who drove in a dangerous manner on one of Warrington’s busiest roads was told his actions were ‘disgusting and atrocious’.

Reece Brown was spotted travelling at nearly twice the speed limit on Winwick Road before colliding into two other cars.

The 30-year-old dad-of-three showed ‘disregard for other road users’ by ‘bullying’ his way through traffic.

He was charged with dangerous driving and appeared before Warrington Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday to be sentenced.

Lionel Cope, prosecuting, explained how on the afternoon of October 16 last year, police were on duty travelling along Winwick Road when they saw a Ford Kuga contravene a red traffic light and driving faster than their vehicle.

They were on their way to deal with another incident at the time, but they noticed the defendant’s vehicle swerving between lanes and slaloming between traffic.

Police then saw it approach other cars at speed, travelling at 70mph in a 40mph zone, before hitting a white Tesla, narrowly missing a Mercedes and colliding with the rear of a red Honda.

The defendant’s car was stopped and he was arrested near to Junction Nine Retail park.

One eyewitness said that the defendant was ‘driving erratically’ and that it was ‘as if he was playing the Grand Theft Auto video game’.

Another said they were ‘frightened’ by his driving, which made them think Brown ‘did not have a care in the world’.

The occupants of one of the vehicles he hit complained of neck soreness as a result, stating that the defendant had ‘ruined their car’.

The court heard how Brown gave no comment during his police interview and has two previous convictions from 2007 and 2009.

In his defence, solicitor Ms O’Mara said that at the time of the incident he had recently been placed on temporary discharge from the armed forces.

The driving was witnessed on Winwick Road in Warrington

The driving was witnessed on Winwick Road in Warrington

Having been on active service for 10 years, he was suffering from panic disorder, which leads him to ‘act in an unpredictable way an not fully comprehend his actions’.

“He has sought to address his issues with medication and is engaging in therapy, which has had a profound impact on his current mental health, which is now stable,” she said.

“The probation service says it can work with him to hone down his critical thinking skills, particularly under pressure.

“He is absolutely distraught in finding himself before the court and did not expect to be here again.”

Ms O’Mara explained how Brown is ‘extremely remorseful and apologetic’, while the damage to other vehicles has been dealt with through insurance, with him accepting full liability for the excess.

Before sentencing, chair magistrate Paul Chadwick said: “You are not going to immediate custody today, but because you are not that does not mean you have gotten away with it.

“This was an absolutely terrifying ordeal for everyone travelling along Winwick Road that afternoon.

“It was absolutely disgusting and atrocious behaviour, showing a disregard for the police and general public, crashing into two vehicles on a busy road and bullying through lanes without any consideration for other road users.

“We have pulled back from immediate custody as we believe you have a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.”

Brown, of Forest Green Way in Sutton Manor, St Helens, was sentenced to four months in prison suspended for 18 months.

He was also disqualified from driving for 24 months and ordered to complete a 12-month community order, including 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

In addition, he must pay £313, including £100 in compensation for occupants who suffered neck discomfort.