A DRIVER hurled a spanner from his car in a potentially-fatal road rage incident on a Hampshire motorway.

The motorist was later attacked by one of the other people involved in the incident on the M27 and suffered a life-changing brain injury.

Christopher Robertson’s decision to throw a spanner out of his vehicle could have had tragic consequences, Southampton Crown Court was told.

He was travelling west on the motorway when one of five cars travelling in convoy towards the New Forest suddenly swerved in front of him.

Dashcam footage released by Hampshire police shows the moment Robertson lost his temper and threw the object out of his car.

It landed in the path of another vehicle, forcing the driver to take evasive action.

Robertson was flashed by some of the other motorists and all six cars ended up on the hard shoulder.

Tim Compton, prosecuting, told the court that a police officer saw one of the drivers in the convoy approach the defendant and push him towards the carriageway.

He added: “The man then punched the defendant, who fell back, hitting his head and suffering a serious injury.”

Robertson, 47, of Portland Way in Knowle, near Fareham, pleaded guilty to endangering road users.

It happened near Eastleigh at the junction of the M3 and the M27 West in June last year.

Daniel Riley, mitigating, said the drivers in the convoy were talking to each other via walkie talkie and said it was “something akin to a Top Gear tour”.

He added: “The only punch thrown was the one received by the defendant.

“He suffered life-changing injuries and has to carry a card explaining how he might present on occasions.”

Urging the court not to jail his client Mr Riley added: “He could not cope within a prison environment.”

Judge Nicholas Rowland told Robertson: “You became angry on the M27 because of driving you did not agree with.

“It’s a graphic illustration of what can happen. For some reason people sitting in cars seem to think they can do all sorts of things.”

Robertson was handed a 12-month community order, including a requirement to carry out 20 days of rehabilitation activities.

The judge told him: “You have suffered life-changing injuries. In different circumstances I would have imposed a work requirement.”

Speaking after the case Robertson said: “Someone broke in front of me and I had to slam on my anchors.

“I’m remorseful over what I did next, even though I have no recollection of the incident. It was a moment of stupidity.”

No-one has been charged in connection with the assault on the defendant.