UPDATE
A BABY faced road rage driver has been jailed after leaving an elderly man with a broken jaw in a horrific unprovoked attacked.
Kickboxer Matthew Thomas Brady, now 21, repeatedly punched Brian Sowerby after chasing him down the A66 dual carriageway in a bout of “high-speed road rage” in January last year.
The dad-of-one, who was just 19 at the time, launched a “champagne-shaped bottle” out of his car window as he pursued his victim at top speeds of 80mph in a 13 minute long attack of “crass stupidity”.
Mr Sowerby, who was returning from a quiet day’s fishing, fled the road and sought refuge at the Dogs Trust in Darlington.
As he exited his van to ask Brady “what this was all about”, his attacker mercilessly punched him several times, “causing him to fall to the floor”.
Brady, an accomplished kickboxer, then dealt a “massive blow to the head”, kicking his victim and fracturing his jaw.
The attack has left Mr Sowerby with anxiety and traumatic flashbacks to the event.
Dad-of-one Brady from Norton pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and grievous bodily harm on April 19, 2021 at Teeside Crown Court.
Prosecuting lawyer Peter Sabiston explained that the victim was driving down the A66 at 2:30pm on January 3, 2020, when Brady began driving behind him.
In his black saloon car, Brady tailgated his victim, topping speeds of 70mph and began “flashing” his lights, assuming the van was a police car.
As Mr Sowerby pulled his van over to allow Brady to pass, the kickboxer overtook his victim before slamming his brakes in front of him.
He then threw a “champagne-shaped bottle” from his car window, forcing his victim to swerve.
As Mr Sowerby fled to the Dogs Trust Darlington, he left his van.
Brady exited his car, punching the elderly man “several times causing him to fall to the floor”.
The dad then dealt a “massive blow” to Mr Sowerby’s head, kicking him and fracturing his jaw.
Mr Sowerby remembered the devastating blow only waking up as he was rushed in an ambulance to Darlington Memorial Hospital.
The victim, a self-employed pest control worker, told the court in a statement that the horrific incident had affected him “financially, mentally and physically”.
He stated that he had lost over £4,000 in income after the attack left him unable to work.
Mr Sowerby still suffers from anxiety and is receiving treatment for his jaw.
Brady was jailed for 22 months and disqualified from driving for 23 month.
He will also pay Mr Sowerby £2,000 in compensation.
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