A road-rage driver drove at a pedestrian on a crossing and threatened to rape his daughter, a court heard.

Paul Mills later threatened to kill another driver and rape his wife in a second attack a week later.

He denied two counts of dangerous driving but was found guilty of both by a jury at Hove Crown Court yesterday.

The court heard Mills has previous convictions for assault and other road rage offences.

Judge David Rennie ordered a report from a forensic consultant psychologist should be obtained before he passed sentence.

But he warned Mills he was keeping all options open, including a prison sentence.

Roger Panel and his 22-year-old daughter Sarah were shopping in Eastbourne on September 5, last year, and were on a pedestrian crossing when Mills drove at them.

Mr Panel said the Astra van appeared to accelerate towards them, forcing them to jump out of the way.

They saw the van turn into a Vauxhall garage and went to speak to Mills, of Dallaway Gardens, East Grinstead.

Miss Panel said Mills pushed her father in the chest and said: "I will get your daughter raped."

A week later, Keith and Carol Wright were driving home to Sussex, from a shopping trip in Croydon with their son in the car.

They said Mills passed on the nearside of their car and then braked suddenly in front of them. They got out to speak to Mills when he stopped at a set of traffic lights but thought better of it.

Mills steered his van at their car a number of times and yelled at Mrs Wright that he would kill her husband and son and would rape her, the court heard.

Rossano Scamardella, defending, said Mills admitted swearing but denied threatening to kill or rape anyone.

Judge Rennie said: "I have concerns about his ability to control his temper both inside and outside a car. I am also concerned about the way in which he may see women because of the nature of the verbal abuse in this case."

Mills was released on bail until October 31, when he will be sentenced.