A road rage van driver who left a motorcyclist injured by driving dangerously on a roundabout has walked free from court.
Stuart Vernon had become embroiled in a dispute with the rider on the A189 Spine Road, in Blyth and told him he was "driving like an idiot" when they ended up side by side at the Three Horseshoes Roundabout.
A court heard angry Vernon, who was making hand gestures, moved his van across to the right and "appears" to have made contact with the motorcyclist's knee.
It knocked him off balance and he made contact with the kerb and lost control of his bike, leading to him being thrown in the air and landing 20 feet away.
Cruel son who spent severely brain-damaged mum's £260,000 compensation said it's what she wanted
He suffered a broken collarbone, which needed to be pinned, and bruising to his body and described the collision as "life changing".
Prosecutors had initially claimed Vernon had deliberately driven at the motorcyclist, which he disputed, having pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
A trial of issue on the point was due to take place but prosecutors have now accepted Vernon's account that he did not drive into the biker on purpose.
A judge said that meant he did not have to impose an immediate prison sentence on the 44-year-old.
The accident happened around 7.30am on June 20 2017 when the motorcyclist was in the right hand lane on the roundabout, when he became aware of Vernon's van pulling alongside him to the left.
Judge Robert Spragg said: "You were clearly very angry, shouting and making hand gestures.
"You moved closer and closer and turned sharply to the right and it appears you made contact with his left knee.
"I accept there were no marks on the van but it was enough to knock him off balance, he made contact with the kerb and lost control. He was thrown in the air and landed 20 feet away."
A witness described seeing the van pull diagonally across the centre line in the road towards the bike, before coming into contact with the biker, who lost control, wobbled, hit the kerb then flipped in the air.
The victim said he had been caused distress and discomfort and ended up taking anti-depressants.
He referred to his life being turned upside down, said he was left with a huge scar which is a constant reminder of what happened, is concerned about regaining the level of fitness he had and described what happened as life changing.
This outwardly respectable married grandfather groomed a 13-year-old girl for sex with gifts
Judge Spragg said: "In interview you claimed you were undertaken earlier by the motorbike when you were going to pull in on the Spine Road.
"You accept when you saw the motorbike you pulled next to him and said 'you are driving like an idiot'.
"However you denied moving towards him or any deliberate contact."
The judge added: "You said you were under considerable pressure at the time, planning a wedding and your father was extremely ill.
"You said you did challenge the motorcyclist but had no recollection of making contact."
Ex-England youth footballer breaks down in tears as he recalls night he killed man on A1
Vernon entered a basis of plea which said he accepted there was a dispute, accepted swearing and sounding his horn, accepted telling him he was driving like an idiot and accepted cutting him up.
However he maintained he did not deliberately drive at him, nor was he aware he had touched him with the van.
Judge Spragg said: "That was particularly significant, which is why it was listed for a Newton Hearing (a trial of issue).
"The Crown now don't seek to say you drove deliberately at the motorcyclist nor do they suggest you knew you had contacted with the bike. They are both significant matters.
"There was brief but dangerous driving arising from a dangerous manoeuvre.
"It was a road rage incident."
The court heard married dad Vernon has expressed genuine remorse, has a strong work ethic, has supportive family and friends and has endured a difficult time waiting for the matter to be resolved for two years.
The judge was given a large number of positive references, including about how it was out of character for him and how he is a well-respected member of his community.
There was also a letter from his local vicar expressing concern about the effect on his family of him potentially going to prison.
'Charming' man allegedly raped mum he met in nightclub and made 'concerted effort' to murder her
Judge Spragg said: "You say you had no intention to cause harm and accept it was a huge error of judgement and that your behaviour was unacceptable."
Probation reports said he was remorseful and a low risk of offending again.
Vernon, of Acklington Road, in Amble, Northumberland, was sentenced to 18 months suspended for 18 months with 150 hours unpaid work and a six month curfew.
The judge told him: "If I was sentencing you on the basis this was a deliberate act and that you had driven off despite knowing what you had done, the sentence would be very different.
"But the main witness today did not attend and the Crown take the view they don't want to have him arrested.
"If it had been on that basis, it would have been immediate custody."
Mum-of-three left living in fear and feeling violated by burglar who 'scattered' her underwear
