A driver has admitted threatening another man with a tyre iron in a fit of road rage.

Daniel Woodwards, 43, of Marston Avenue, Penhill, pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon in a public place at Swindon Magistrates Court on November 5.

The court heard that Woodwards was “cut up” by another motorist on January 20 while travelling to Greenbridge Retail Park and went to confront the driver in the car park.

Mr Ballinger, prosecuting, said Woodwards pulled out a tyre iron to threaten the victim but did not use the weapon.

The victim told officers it looked like Woodwards was going to punch him with the tyre iron and his partner, who witnessed the incident, said he was “shaking” the weapon around “for a couple of minutes”.

Mr Glendenning, defending, argued that the victim had parked in a disabled bay Woodwards wanted to use and he did not follow the motorist into Greenbridge Retail Park just to confront him – instead he was there because he wanted to go shopping at Currys.

The Magistrate described the interaction as a “really unpleasant incident” which could have resulted in a “more serious situation”.

The hearing was adjourned until December 20 pending a pre-sentence report.

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