A DRIVER racially abused another motorist who he thought was driving too slow on a snowy and icy road.

Keith Dorey drove up close behind Samir Sheikh to intimidate him, before getting out and shouting at him, Winchester Crown Court heard.

Dorey, of Hobbs Court, Rooksdown, Basingstoke, was in the dock having been convicted of a racially aggravated public order offence by a jury.

The 44-year-old had denied the offence, claiming Mr Sheikh was the aggressor, but jurors found him guilty after a three-day trial in April.

Outlining the facts of the case at the sentencing hearing, Judge Susan Evans said Mr Sheikh had been driving “appropriately slowly” when the offence took place at around 2pm on January 20, last year, in Sherfield Road, Bramley.

She told Dorey: “You drove up close behind to intimidate him. You tried to spit at his window. You then stopped and delivered the most appalling abuse towards him.

“Having run at him initially, you went back to your car and tried to push your dog in his face. Fortunately your dog was quite placid.”

The court heard Dorey then drove off at speed, only to crash his car before running off on foot.

Audrey Archer, defending, said Dorey had since been diagnosed with an anti-social behaviour disorder. She added that he could have suffered an episode of this when the road rage took place.

She also told the court his sister has mixed race children, who he sees regularly. She added: “He wishes you to know he does not have any entrenched racist beliefs or feelings.”

Judge Evans handed Dorey a seven-month sentence, suspended for 24 months, with a mental health treatment requirement. He was also disqualified from driving for 12 months, after also admitting driving without a licence.