A professional goalkeeper who had only just passed his driving test "intimidated" a father and son by kicking their car during a road rage attack, a court heard.

Nikki Bull, 18, who plays for Queen's Park Rangers reserve team, flashed his lights and sounded his horn while driving behind Colin Pearce's VW Golf before the incident in December. Mr Pearce told Hastings magistrates that a man with a "Beckham-style hair cut" kicked the car so severely it was written off.

Bull, of School Lane, Peasmarsh, near Rye, who passed his test three weeks before the incident, was found guilty of dangerous driving. He admitted criminal damage. The case was adjourned for pre-sentence reports until June 15.

Bull was given an interim driving ban. He faces a ban of at least 12 months and will have to take an extended driving test. Mr Pearce, a photographer from Hastings, said he became aware of a V-reg Vauxhall Corsa under-taking cars on the A21 near Tunbridge Wells.

He claimed the Corsa, driven by Bull, then came up behind him with its lights flashing. At traffic lights near Flimwell, Bull kicked Mr Pearce's car on both sides. Bull claimed Mr Pearce and his son had given him rude gestures. He told police in an interview on February 20: "I lost my temper, I admit that."

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