A motorist who drove his car onto a kerb injuring a pedestrian has been slammed at Worcester Crown Court for "a very dangerous piece of driving".

Benjamin Norman saw his son being chased along a street in Pershore by a number of men.

He tried protecting him by using the car to separate him from the pursuing group but the Mitsubushi Shogun ran into David Faizey, knocking him over.

Mr Faizey was caught in the ribs and hit his head on the ground as he fell backwards, said Lee Marklew, prosecuting.

He suffered a gashed head and shin and injuries to his elbows.

It was claimed that the victim and his brother were angry over an alleged bullying incident and went after Norman's son on June 23 last year.

When the defendant became aware that a street attack was looming, he got in his car to investigate, said Mr Marklew.

"He saw his son running towards his vehicle with a group of men pursuing him," he went on.

"He manoeuvred the car to try and separate him from the group but mounted the kerb."

Norman, aged 46, of Farleigh Road, Pershore, pleaded guilty to causing bodily harm by wilful neglect.

Recorder John Freeman told him: "You used your car to defend your son, but should not have taken the law into your own hands.

"This was a very dangerous piece of driving in a confined space. Luckily, there were no serious injuries."

Norman was sentenced to 51 weeks jail, suspended for 12 months, with 12 months supervision by the probation service.

He was also banned from the road for 12 months and his four-wheel drive vehicle was confiscated.

Laura Kasasian, defending, said the risk taken by the father-of-four to separate the men had not paid off and he regretted causing the injuries.

Norman and his wife were both unemployed due to illness and he was a carer for his mother.