Danger driver banned after three-vehicle crash left biker with broken collarbone
Stuart McKie had pulled his BMW in front of a Volvo in "bad temper" as the vehicles travelled along the A194 towards the Tyne Tunnel in South Tyneside in April 2018.
Newcastle Crown Court heard a mechanical fault brought the 41-year-old's BMW to a sudden halt and produced a "puff of smoke", which gave the Volvo travelling behind no time to stop and they crashed.
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Hide AdProsecutor Matthew Collins said a biker riding behind the cars then crashed into the back of the Volvo, was flung from his motorbike and was taken to hospital by ambulance with a broken collarbone.
His motorcycle was heavily damaged.
Mr Collins said before the collision, McKie and the driver of the Volvo had been seen "vying each other for road space" and appeared to be "driving against each other".
Prosecutors initially claimed McKie had brought his BMW to a sudden stop to deliberately cause a hazard to the Volvo driver, out of "revenge".
But Mr Collins told the court the "puff of smoke" from the car could be seen on CCTV and McKie was able to produce documentation to prove the sudden stop had been down to a mechanical fault and was not deliberate.
McKie admitted dangerous driving.
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Hide AdJudge Stephen Earl sentenced him to a community order for 12 months with 300 hours unpaid work and a 12 month driving ban with £200 costs.
The judge said McKie had been driving "furiously" before the crash but the sudden stop of his vehicle was not a deliberate act or part of the dangerous driving.
Judge Earl said: "He has had this matter hanging over him for some considerable time."
The court heard McKie, of Ripon Street, Sunderland, has never been in trouble before, handed in references to his ordinarily positive character and has family commitments.