A DAD of six who went back to court to dispute a £250 fine for a road rage incident was instead sent to prison and ordered to pay more.

Jamie Kent, of Hillary Drive, Didcot, was labelled a ‘bully’ who behaved ‘appallingly’ during a seven-minute altercation with a 65-year-old woman on the afternoon of February 18 last year.

The 41-year-old electrician was given a two-week custodial sentence and made to pay a further £750 for common assault at Oxford Crown Court today.

Kent had previously pleaded his innocence over the case, despite CCTV showing him repeatedly returning to the vehicle of Jillian Brownlie to berate her at the Co-op petrol station forecourt, on Wantage Road, Didcot, after she had beeped her horn at him.

His young son watched on and eventually walked away from their vehicle, while various members of the public tried to calm the situation and reassure a ‘terrified’ Mrs Brownlie, who said she suffered an injury during the altercation.

Judge Peter Ross labelled the original sentence handed down by magistrates as ‘wholly inappropriate’, adding that Kent forced open the passenger door of the car.

In court, Kent’s family members cried and one daughter shouted out “I love you Dad” after the sentence was read out. Kent waved goodbye as he left the court, having been berated by Judge Ross for interrupting his summing up.

Judge Ross said: “You chose to appeal to this court and were advised that the sentence could go up as well as down.

“You are a man with a previous conviction for violence.

“We watched the seven minutes of appalling behaviour. It is a road rage case.”

Electing not to disqualify Kent from driving, and noting that the incident was in the presence of children, he continued: “You are a man who uses violence as a means of dealing with an issue you don’t like.

“You chose to lose your temper over a seven minute period (and) kept returning to Mrs Brownlie’s car.

“She was terrified.”

Tomas Quinn, defending, said the greatest harm from a prison sentence would be felt by the family, who relied upon his income.

He added: "He is a good father and a provider for his family and if he was to lose (his) employment that would (hurt them)."

Julian Lynch, prosecuting, said the 'sustained' nature of the incident made it worse and suggested some of the hostility was because Kent did not like being challenged by a woman.

Noting Mrs Brownlie’s injury and that her age made her ‘vulnerable’, Judge Ross continued: “You are the classic bully.

"You were seeking to intimidate a woman considerably older than you and it was only when a man stood up to you that you stopped.

“You have many responsibilities, but these are matters that you should have thought about (before the incident).”