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Former world champion boxer Glenn McCrory threatened to kill another driver after being confronted over his erratic driving.

The Sky Sports pundit had been having lunch at a pub in Kenton Bank Foot, Newcastle, when his Ranger Rover was spotted veering between lanes while on his way back to his Gosforth pad.

McCrory’s plush motor was seen swerving and mounting kerbs as he struggled to control the 4x4 on the Great North Road, a court heard.

Concerned driver Ryszard Jurowski spotted his erratic behaviour and followed him home to confront the former boxing champ.

But 6ft 4in McCrory launched into a foul-mouthed tirade, threatening to kill Mr Jurowski and punching him several times.

At a trial at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court, Mr Jurowski said: “I was stopped at lights on the Great North Road with one car between me and a Range Rover.

“We turned right and about 60ft up the road the Range Rover swerved into the cycle lane, then veered back into the other side of the road. It was a single carriageway and he was in the opposite lane.

“When I saw that I thought something was strange so kept following it. Then it came back into our lane then back into the cycle lane. He was on the wrong side of the road for about four car lengths.

“He was veering across the road from one side of the road to the other.”

(Image: © Sky Box Office/Justin Downing)

The court was told McCrory’s car then turned left but ended up again on the wrong side of the road, causing another vehicle to stop.

The Range Rover then manoeuvred around the stopped car before driving up a kerb and on some grass at the side of the road, before pulling up in McCrory’s cul-de-sac.

Mr Jurowski was parked behind him before getting out.

He said: “I approached the vehicle and knocked on the window. Mr McCrory looked me up and down then opened the door. Nothing had been said at this point.

“When the door opened it stunk of alcohol. I said, ‘you should not have done that, you are p*ssed’. He replied, ‘what the f*ck has it got to do with you?’”

Mr Jurowski then phoned the police and put his arm on the steering wheel to stop McCrory driving away, but the boxer then demanded to be given the phone.

Mr Jurowski said: “He said, ‘do you know who I am? I am going to f*cking kill you’. The next thing, bang, bang. I had been hit twice in the side of the face.”

McCrory, 51, then punched Mr Jurowski several more times, leaving him with a cut lip and swelling to the face, it was said.

Newcastle Magistrates’ Court was played Mr Jurowski’s frantic 999 call made at 6.52pm on January 22 this year, and heard him tell the operator: “He is hitting me.”

Four police cars and a van were sent to McCrory’s home, where he was arrested in front of his partner and two young children.

District Judge Sarah-Jane Griffiths was also shown CCTV from Forth Banks Police Station on the night of McCrory’s arrest, which appeared to show him slurring his words while he swore at officers.

The police officer said McCrory appeared visibly drunk and was aggressive.

McCrory denied he was drunk but refused to take a breathalyser test both at the roadside and later at the police station.

He claimed his behaviour had been caused by jet lag after returning from California the night before.

Dressed in a smart grey suit and red tie, McCrory, who pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen for analysis, denied assault by beating but was convicted.

Sentencing him to 10 weeks imprisonment suspended for 12 months, District Judge Griffiths said: “There was prolonged erratic driving, bordering on dangerous driving. I am sure you were severely intoxicated. The fact you did not provide a specimen means we will never know how intoxicated you were.

“I am thankful no-one was hurt by your driving and I am thankful you weren’t hurt by your driving. Somebody could have been killed.”

McCrory, of Great Park, Gosforth, was also ordered to pay costs totalling £830 and was disqualified from driving for 30 months.

Defending, Kevin Ross told the court McCrory was suffering from a stress-related disorder and his dad was on his death bed at the time of the incident.

Born in Annfield Plain, County Durham, McCrory held the International Boxing Federation version of the cruiserweight world championship in 1989.

He won 30 of his 39 fights, including 12 by knockout.

McCrory is now a regular face of Sky Sports’ boxing coverage, providing analysis on some of the biggest fights in the sport’s history from across the world.