A PROFESSIONAL driver “used his car as a weapon”, driving at a man in a supermarket car park.Terence Pressley, 53, drove his Ford Mondeo at Andrew Howell in the car park of the Tesco store at Stalham, forcing him to jump out of the way to avoid being crushed.

A PROFESSIONAL driver “used his car as a weapon”, driving at a man in a supermarket car park.

Terence Pressley, 53, drove his Ford Mondeo at Andrew Howell in the car park of the Tesco store at Stalham, forcing him to jump out of the way to avoid being crushed.

Pressley, of Ashmanhaugh, near Stalham, admitted dangerous driving when he appeared at Norwich Crown Court last Thursday .

Malcolm Robins, prosecuting, said Mr Howell had been reversing his van in the car park on July 11 last year when Pressley drove his car into a space opposite.

Pressley cut inside the van, sandwiching it against a cone. Mr Howell opened his driver's door and started to get out of his van when Pressley drove at him, hitting the open door and damaging it.

Pressley then reversed his Mondeo and drove deliberately towards the van, causing Mr Howell to jump clear to avoid his legs being crushed.

Pressley then drove off, putting two fingers up at Mr Howell.

Michael Clare, mitigating, said Pressley was an HGV driver, covering many miles each year. He was due to start a new job next week.

Recorder Guy Ayers said: “He knows how dangerous a vehicle is, yet he used his car as a weapon and deliberately drove at a person and his vehicle. Can you make any sense of that from a professional driver?”

Mr Clare said: “He over-reacted.”

Pressley was given a six-month jail term, suspended for two years, was ordered to do 150 hours' community work and was disqualified from driving for 12 months.

The recorder told Pressley he must take an extended test before he can drive again.