A 72-YEAR-OLD nomad used his camper van as a weapon during a road rage attack in Worcester.

Peter Day, who travels the country in his mobile home, was visiting the city in February when he went to Diglis Basin to use a chemical toilet disposal unit. There, he was approached by a couple and told him he could not park.

The altercation escalated and resulted in Day driving his van at the woman, who was forced to run backwards to avoid being dragged under.

At Worcester Magistrates Court on Wednesday, Day, who was found guilty of assault by battery at trial, was sentenced.

Explaining to the court how events unfolded, Julie Rosamond, prosecuting, said the victim tried to stop Day driving away from the scene.

“She stood in front of the van,” said Mrs Rosamond.

“It made contact with the middle of her body. She had her hands on the mobile home’s bonnet and her knee was touching the bumper.

“She said she was running backwards with the vehicle and feared if she stopped she would have gone underneath it.”

The bench had deemed Day, who only has one leg, had deliberately driven his vehicle forward using it as a weapon, while an independent witness saw the victim being carried for five to 10 metres before the van stopped.

Sam Lamsdale, defending, said there had been a degree of provocation and Day, whose family home is in Southhampton, also suffered injuries.

She said the man had kicked the camper van and Day, “extremely concerned about damage being caused”, drove away.

Deputy district judge Michael James condemned road rage.

“Assaults are all too prevalent these days,” he said, “and these road rage assaults, as they are popularly called, often end with a custodial sentence.

“It may well be there were faults on both sides, but the fact remains you cannot use any part of yourself or any other items to inflict force.”

Day was made subject to a 12-month conditional disorder, ordered to pay £350 costs and £100 compensation.