A VAN driver left a holidaymaker needing stitches after punching him in the face in a road rage incident on a main road through Whitchurch.

Matthew Lee, 29, of Lamberton Drive in Brymbo, was convicted of causing actual bodily harm at Telford Magistrates Court after he punched Stanley Scotford on July 16, 2021.

Lee claimed he was spat at, verbally abused and grabbed at by Mr Scotford, and only threw the punch because of a 'fight or flight' response – but the court rejected his claims as "vague and non-specific" after a trial on Thursday.

Magistrates heard the punch came after the Scotfords were driving home to Blackburn after a holiday and there had been an altercation between him and a motorcyclist.

Driving on the A41 near Whitchurch last summer, Mr Scotford went to overtake a white Dacia in his BMW convertible – only to realise a motorcyclist was attempting the same manoeuvre.

The pair exchanged words while still moving along the road and Mr Scotford, supported by his wife, told the court that he acknowledged he was in the wrong and the biker sped off.

However, the court heard that a white Volkswagen van driven by Lee then pulled in front of the couple and repeatedly slammed on the brakes.

Mr Scotford said Lee did this in order to cause a crash – although the defendant said he had pulled in front of both car and biker to "act as a witness" to the incident.

But he added that the biker left before he could offer his services, and claimed Mr Scotford then swore at him, spat at him and tried to grab him, despite being in a seated driver's position.

He told the court this led him to throw one punch, which caused Mr Scotford's glasses to slash under his right eye, leaving him needing 10 butterfly stitches. He then ran back to his van.

But the prosecution told Lee that he had 'angrily' intervened in the situation because he is also a biker and wanted to "teach Mr Scotford a lesson".

The defendant denied this, but was convicted by magistrates, who said: "Your reaction to the damage caused by your punch was in opposite to a reactive punch.

"We do not find in your favour and find you guilty."

Lee was sentenced to a 12-month community order with 120 hours of unpaid work, with compensation of £200 to be paid to the Scotfords and £750 costs plus a £95 victim surcharge.