A Rugby Advertiser photographer was grabbed around the neck by a motorist after a car crash following a road rage incident.

Jamie Gray was on a job for his paper at the time.

Rugby magistrates gave Paul Graham, (38), of Church Street, Clifton, a 12-month community order for threatening behaviour, driving without due care and attention, failing to stop and failing to report an accident.

The court was told that he leapt from his car and grabbed Jamie around the neck outside the Town Hall after their cars collided.

He refused to leave his details and when approached by a nearby motorist, said, 'I am going to break his neck', while clenching his fist.

Graham left before the police arrived.

The court heard that the incident started when Jamie noticed Graham tailgating him.

As the cars stopped at traffic lights in Evreux Way, Graham gave a 'provocative sign' - which was returned by the photographer. Graham’s Megane then overtook the photographer’s Corsa and cut him up sharply, causing the cars to collide.

He mounted the attack believing that the photographer was to blame for the collision.

Jamie, who was on the way to take a photograph of a local charity for the Advertiser, told the court, via a written statement, that he feared for his safety and still got "shivers down his spine" when he saw similar cars on the road.

In mitigation, Graham told the court he did not grab Jamie’s neck but admitted that his driving had been 'erratic'.

In addition to the community sentence he was given five penalty points on his driving licence.