A THUG has admitted assaulting a terminally ill driving instructor in a road rage attack.

Jamie Kilmurray, 39, broke Christopher Barnett’s arm when a teenage learner driver was slow to drive off.

Gareth Hughes, prosecuting, said: “Somebody behind beeps their horn, that’s Kilmurray in a white Range Rover.

“The white Ranger Rover overtakes the vehicle and stops.

“The defendant gets out and comes towards the learner vehicle in quite an aggressive way and two other occupants get out.

“There comes a time where the camera footage shows the defendant on the passenger side of the vehicle and the door is opened.

“It is then closed and it’s closed on the elbow of Mr Barnett.”

The victim, Mr Barnett, 64, of Nayling Road, Braintree, has terminal bowel cancer which has now spread to his liver and bones.

Kilmurray admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm at Chelmsford Crown Court.

John Coffey, mitigating, said: “Kilmurray thought he was dealing with a man that was well able to take care of himself.

Braintree and Witham Times:

“There was no awareness of any issue that the man had suffered from and no intent to cause injury or harm to them.

“It was unattractive on both sides.”

Kilmurray, of Great Notley, attacked Mr Barnett along London Road, Braintree on June 19.

Judge Emma Peters said: “You behaved rather repulsively. Your aggression was obvious to see.

“It was unpleasant to watch and I hope you felt some shame and embarrassment and know who you did it too.

“People sometimes talk about aggressive 4x4 drivers. On that day you fulfilled that. You behaved like a bully.

Kilmurray was sentenced to ten weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to pay £1,000 in compensation, a £1,000 penalty and costs of £1,800 at Chelmsford Crown Court on Thursday, February 4.

Speaking after the sentencing, Mr Barnett said: “I think he got what he deserved really.

“You can’t go around assaulting people and get away with it.”

Kilmurray, has a string of previous offences including threatening a female police officer in March while drunk at a taxi rank in Colchester.