A CWMBRAN man who hit a farmer with his car after an altercation in which he said he was convinced he was being chased by a man with a gun has been banned from driving for a year.

Matthew Gulliford, 24, of St Andrew’s Close, was walking his four dogs in a field in Little Mill in Usk on August 14 last year, when a farmer, James Davies, approached him because he had heard his sheep being disturbed.

Newport Crown Court heard the farmer and Gulliford engaged in a heated row at about 5.15pm. In it, Mr Davies picked up a metal stick which Gulliford told police he believed was a gun.

Gulliford then ran to his Vauxhall Astra with his dogs. He then drove at a considerable speed into Mr Davies, who was emerging from a hedge.

The court heard the victim has since suffered bad health including tenderness to his ribcage, his abdomen, back and spine, after being crashed into.

Gulliford had earlier pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and dangerous driving.

It emerged he had suffered a fall in his youth, that his behaviour has been shaped by psychological difficulties and that he genuinely believed he was at risk when he rowed with the victim.

Judge Philip Richards ordered Gulliford to undertake a 15 month community order and specific activity requirement over the same period and disqualified him from driving for 12 months.

The judge said: “It is completely wrong to use a motor vehicle where the likely result is someone will be injured.

“I accept your explanation and I have taken into account and your psychological difficulties and your likely level of application of the threat to what you felt was being imposed by Mr Davies.

“I have nothing but sympathy with Mr Davies who has suffered very great pain and injuries as a result of your behaviour.

“But the conclusion I have come to that your behaviour was committed in circumstances that were wholly exceptional.

“It was misbehaviour that the defendant involved himself in when he was extremely frightened.”

Gulliford must also take an extended driving test before he will be allowed to drive again.