JAILED: Simon Daw.
A NORTH Cornwall postman and town councillor has described a road rage incident – which resulted in a driver being jailed – as a "frightening experience".
The postman, Ashley Crapp, also a member of Launceston Town Council, was left shaken after a driver overtook his van before slamming on his brakes, getting out of his BMW, and threatening the Royal Mail employee with a pickaxe handle.
Mr Crapp had been making his way to Tregadillett, near Launceston, to collect mail from the village post box at 5pm on March 26, last year, when he came face-to-face with a furious motorist, Truro Crown Court heard on Tuesday.
Ed Bailey, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said Mr Crapp became aware of a silver BMW approaching at speed from behind him after he had turned onto an unclassified road.
Simon Daw, 52, was driving the car, the court heard.
Mr Bailey said: "The BMW then overtook the post van and pulled in.
"Mr Crapp was completely unaware of why the defendant had decided to carry out the manoeuvre."
Mr Bailey said Mr Crapp passed Daw's vehicle and continued on his way to the village but soon became aware that the BMW was coming up from behind again.
Daw overtook the post van for a second time and stopped in the road which caused Mr Crapp to have to come to an "abrupt halt".
Daw, of Race Hill, Launceston, then went to the boot of his vehicle and picked up a 3ft pickaxe handle.
He wielded the weapon above his shoulder height and started to come towards Mr Crapp's van.
"Mr Crapp was absolutely terrified," said Mr Bailey.
"In a panic he put his van into reverse gear and he reversed at speed before doing a three-point turn, leaving the area."
The incident was witnessed by off-duty police officer PC Leigh Phippard.
Mr Bailey said: "He watched the defendant return to that BMW and described him having a reddened face with gritted teeth."
Daw was arrested and told police that Mr Crapp had turned in front of him, causing stone chippings to be thrown up, one of which cracked his windscreen.
He said he was angry when Mr Crapp drove past him without stopping.
Mr Bailey said: "He agreed with the interviewing officer that it was similar to a police tactical hard stop.
"[He said] I thought 'he ain't going to drive past me without me doing something to his car'."
Mr Crapp told the Cornish Guardian: "I got away in time. I have never experienced anything like it."
In a victim impact statement read out in court, Mr Crapp said: "I think I am lucky that I was not injured.
"I believe it was that man's intention to attack me with what he had in his hand."
The court heard Daw, who admitted driving without care and attention and threatening a person with an offensive weapon, had previous convictions.
The latest offences put him in breach of a suspended sentence imposed for perverting the course of justice in relation to a driving matter.
Ramsay Quaife, for the defence, said Daw knew that he had to change his thinking and had sought the help of a psychotherapist.
Daw, who worked as a driver, was jailed for six months for the road rage incident and had two months of his suspended sentence activated to a total of eight months.
He was also banned from driving for nine months.
