A Greenhill driver involved in a road rage incident on the Thanet Way found himself spitting with rage.

Furious David Woodrow expected other motorists to get out of his way and when a van driver refused, he undertook him.

A judge heard how the 34-year-old stopped on the outside lane of the dual carriageway, got out of his vehicle and then spat a sweet at the van driver.

Now Woodrow, also known as David Taylor, has been given a stern dressing down after avoiding a jail sentence.

Judge Rupert Lowe told him: “This was outrageous behaviour and road rage of the most obvious kind.

“You need to understand the road is not just for you to use and everybody else should get out of your way.

"Not everyone drives like you and if you don’t understand that you should not drive."

Woodrow, of Rowland Drive, had admitted driving dangerously on the A299 Thanet Way at 3.45pm on December 5 last year.

Prosecutor Ed Fowler said two off-duty police officers saw what happened - one, a detective, had been tailgated by Woodrow until she moved to the inside lane near the Whitstable junction.

It was then he began a confrontation with van driver Philip Evans who was in the London-bound carriageway and began flashing the lights of his VW Golf.

"You need to understand the road is not just for you to use and everybody else should get out of your way" - Judge Rupert Lowe

Mr Fowler said when the van failed to give way immediately, Woodrow undertook the vehicle, then pulled into the outside lane and put his brakes on hard forcing Mr Evans to make an emergency stop.

The incident was caught on the van camcorder and played to the judge and Mr Evans could be heard verbally abusing Woodrow.

The footage also captured the sound of Woodrow pulling open the van door and spitting at Mr Evans.

The judge told Woodrow: “Your response to Mr Evans was: ‘He's in my way; he is in the wrong... so he must get out of my way otherwise I am going to have a go.

“Well it's not safe to have people like that on the road."

He compared Woodrow’s behaviour to a child in the playground demanding a toy.

Woodrow, who admitted driving dangerously, common assault and damaging Mr Evans’ car, was banned from driving for a year and ordered to pay £400 compensation.

Phil Rowley, defending, said that since the incident Woodrow had sought help with his anger problems.

He said his client had been suffering from Oppositional Defiance Disorder, but the judge commented that it sounded like a medical description of bad behaviour.

The judge also gave him and 18 month community order and told to take course in "Thinking Skills" and carry out 80 hours of unpaid work for the community.