A MAN from Colwyn Bay who drove his car into a motorcyclist in Llandudno Junction has been spared jail.

Christopher Heath, 37, of St David’s Road, Old Colwyn, was sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, at Caernarfon Crown Court today (June 21).

He had previously admitted a charge of driving a motor vehicle dangerously.

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Prosecuting, Thomas McLoughlin told the court that, on November 12, 2022, Heath was driving his red Ford Focus vehicle past the Co-op store on Conway Road.

As he did, he approached Shane Hughes, who riding a motorcycle in the opposite direction.

There was a third vehicle, parked with its hazard lights on, which Mr Hughes had right of way to overtake.

But Heath instead overtook the parked car, straddling the carriageways and driving on the wrong side of the road, heading straight towards Mr Hughes in doing so.

Mr Hughes had to brake heavily on his motorcycle, before turning it around and heading towards Heath, who by then had parked in front of the Co-op.

Words were exchanged between the two men, while a passenger from Heath’s vehicle exited the car.

While Mr Hughes was sat on his motorcycle with his helmet off, Heath accelerated heavily into him, knocking him off the bike and causing him to hit the bonnet and windscreen of his car.

Heath then got out of his vehicle to drag the motorcycle off his car, making no attempt to check on Mr Hughes all the while.

He then drove his vehicle around the corner to wait for the aforementioned passenger, who had tried to check on Mr Hughes.

When the passenger re-entered the car, Heath drove away.

The incident, captured in its entirety by Conwy County Borough Council’s own closed circuit television (CCTV), caused Mr Hughes pain in his back, ankles and wrists.

He undertook physiotherapy sessions as a result, while Heath told police he was “acting in anger”.

Defending Heath, who had one previous conviction for three offences, Sarah Yates said he is “extremely remorseful” for his “complete overreaction to the situation he found himself in”.

While Ms Yates said that Heath accepts there is “absolutely no excuse” for his behaviour, she considered it to be “out of character for him”.

Heath lost employment as a result of this conviction, but has since gained another job with a grass-cutting company.

He has also been referred to counselling for help managing his anger and depression, and was said to be “motivated to change”.

Ms Yates invited the court to suspend Heath’s custodial sentence, saying: “It is with sheer luck that the complainant didn’t suffer from worse, more severe injuries.

“The defendant acknowledges that; he has learnt a big lesson from what he did.”

Sentencing, Judge Timothy Petts disqualified Heath from driving for 12 months.

He must pass an extended re-test before being allowed to return to the roads.

Heath was ordered to carry out 20 days’ rehabilitation activity requirements and 250 hours’ unpaid work, as well as paying a statutory surcharge.

Judge Petts told Heath that he was “clearly using your car as a weapon” and that his reaction was “totally disproportionate to what had gone before”.

Mr Hughes was “very lucky indeed” to have avoided serious injury, Judge Petts added.