Three teenagers were beaten with a baton when they were caught up in a terrifying road-rage incident on their way home from a night out.

The youngster's driver changed her mind about pulling into a layby which angered the occupants of the car behind.

A Mitsubishi driven by Stephen Marshall tried to force the group's Peugeot off the road before both vehicles came to a halt, said Raj Punia, prosecuting at Worcester Crown Court. Marshall's passenger Sarbjit Bassi got out wielding the baton and attacked Ben Atkinson, Thomas Johnson and James Campbell, who were driving home to Evesham.

Mr Atkinson, aged 18, was the worst injured. He was knocked unconscious and had a gashed forehead and a leg wound needing nine stitches. Marshall hit Mr Johnson in the face during the violence on December 30 last year. In a separate incident, Bassi wielded a ceremonial sword in the Angel Vaults pub in Evesham after the landlord asked him to leave because he was drunk.

He smashed it down on a table where four pensioners were sitting, said Miss Punia.

He also threatened to rape the wife and family of a policeman called to the scene and kicked out at him.

Bassi, aged 37, of Four Pools Road, Evesham, was jailed for 21 months.

He pleaded guilty to wounding, assault causing actual bodily harm, common assault, possession of a weapon, affray and assault on police.

Marshall, aged 48, of Oak Tree Close, Evesham, was given a three-month jail sentence, suspended for 18 months. He admitted common assault.

Judge Alistair McCreath said the road rage was "a totally disproportionate response" to, at worst, irritating driving.

He recognised that Bassi's life had gone downhill after domestic trouble and a failed business venture. Charnjit Jutla, defending both men, said Bassi's crimes were fuelled by drug and alcohol misuse.

He had broken away from the gang culture in Birmingham and settled down in Evesham, before getting into severe financial difficulties and spoiling a 13-year break from offending.

Mr Jutla said Marshall, who had stayed out of trouble for 20 years, was in a much less serious position that his co-defendant.