A SOUTH Petherton man accused of smashing a car window during a road rage incident has denied assaulting the other driver and driving carelessly.

Jonathon James Griffiths was said to have pulled out from a side junction in front of the other vehicle as it drove through Haselbury Plucknett.

He was then alleged to have deliberately slowed down his vehicle to annoy the other driver and when he went to overtake he sped up again.

The defendant got out of his car and approached the other vehicle and shouted at the complainant to open his door and then ran up the road after him when he drove off.

During a confrontation between the two Griffiths broke a rear window on the complainant’s car and was then said to have pushed him in the chest with both hands while screaming and shouting at him.

Griffiths, 49, of Lopenhead, pleaded not guilty to assaulting Peter Ashcroft at Haselbury Plucknett by beating him and driving his Suzuki Vitara on the A30 without due care and attention, on March 2.

Prosecutor Suzie Butler said that on the day in question the complainant, Mr Ashcroft, was driving on the A3066 in Haselbury Plucknett in a VW Golf when the defendant was alleged to have pulled out in front of him.

He was then said to have deliberately slowed down and then sped up again when he tried to overtake, an allegation which Griffiths denied.

During a confrontation between the pair, the defendant was alleged to have pushed the complainant in the chest with both hands while screaming and shouting at him.

Defending solicitor Greg Peters said the defendant denied pushing Mr Ashcroft saying he never even got out of his vehicle.

He added that Griffiths said he had not pulled out in front of the complainant but alleged that it was Mr Ashcroft who caught up with him and tried to overtake him.

Sentencing for the criminal damage was adjourned until September 9 when the defendant was ordered to return to the court at Yeovil to stand trial over the two denied matters.

In the meantime he was released on unconditional bail.