A ROAD rage driver broke a pedestrian's ankle by reversing his car at him in a late-night city centre argument, York Crown Court heard.

Guy Edward Murray, 25, acted after his drunken victim Lee Downie, 27, smashed two of his car windows and tried to drag him from the vehicle.

As Murray drove off through red lights, a bus set off in pursuit.

Landscape gardener Murray, of Carr Lane, Acomb, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm, dangerous driving, failure to stop after an accident and failure to report the accident.

Judge Paul Hoffman said that he had "used his car as a weapon" in a "road rage" incident.

But because Murray had been "seriously provoked" in a "frightening" way and had not intended to injure Mr Downie, he would not jail him.

He ordered him to carry out 240 hours' community service, and pay £1,000 compensation to the pedestrian, which was less than half what his injuries merited, plus £656 court costs.

Fiona Dix-Dyer, prosecuting, said Mr Downie and friends were crossing Pavement heading for last orders at the Golden Fleece at the end of an evening's drinking, when someone called out something from Murray's car.

Mr Downie, who says he had drunk so much he "had only a rough idea" of what he was doing, then broke the windows.

Murray drove on to the Piccadilly junction, and reversed at speed on to the pavement, knocking over Mr Downie, who broke his ankle and suffered other injuries.

A bus driver who saw the attack pursued Murray who, together with his passengers, abandoned his car in Castlegate car park. Murray handed himself in the next day.

For Murray, Geoff Hunter said Mr Downie had tried to drag the driver from the car.

The driver was fully remorseful for his actions.