A MOTORIST was given a suspended sentence after knocking down a pedestrian who, a court heard, had been playing "chicken" with passing cars.

Driver Craig Searles was "mad with rage", Cardiff crown court heard.

He was sentenced to a year's imprisonment suspended for two years. Victim Nathan Boaler, then 17, suffered broken fingers and a broken wrist and cuts and abrasions.

Searles, 23, had told the court he had intended frightening Boaler, but when he swerved as he approached him he lost control.

Searles, of Brynglas Avenue, Pontllanfraith, admitted charges of inflicting grievous bodily harm and dangerous driving.

After a trial he was found not guilty of wounding Mr Boaler with intent to do him grievous bodily harm.

The court heard that in Newbridge Road, Pontllanfraith on November 4, 2006, Mr Boaler had been playing "chicken" with passing motorists.

One of the motorists was Searles, who after an incident involving Mr Boaler drove home, but later returned to the scene and struck him.

Passing sentence Recorder Anthony O'Toole said: "This was an appalling incidence, one in which you could have killed Mr Boaler.

"A car is a dangerous weapon and must never be used in circumstances such as this.

"I accept that Mr Boaler was playing "chicken," contrary to what he told the jury on oath. But you, with your responsibilities should have known better."

He said Searles need not and should not have returned to the scene.

The recorder said that only ten days before, Searles had been given a community sentence for public order offences.

"You must have been mad with rage to go back to the scene. Your life seems now to be on an even keel and these offences occurred nearly 18 months ago," the recorder said.

The court heard that Searles had previous convictions for using threatening words and behaviour, being drunk and disorderly, taking a vehicle without authority, dangerous driving, driving without due care and attention and possessing drugs.

His counsel, Owen Williams, said Searles initially drove at Mr Boaler to scare him.

"The assault on him was reckless rather than intentional. I accept he is not assisted by his previous convictions," Mr Williams said.

An immediate custodial sentence, said Mr Williams, would have a devastating affect on Searle's, his family and the children of his partner.

In addition to the suspended sentence Searles was ordered to carry out 250 hours unpaid work for the community and he was disqualified from driving for twenty months and ordered to take the extended test.