A teacher rammed his VW camper van into his ex-lover's car as she left school with her new partner, a court heard.

An "enraged" Nicholas Burne-Cronshaw allegedly revved his engine before twice ploughing into the vehicle of shocked classroom assistant Susan Lutchman.

Her Ford Cortina, driven by boyfriend Charles Newlands, was shunted 70ft down the road in front of fellow teachers, a jury was told.

The 34-year-old then argued with Mrs Lutchman before mounting a kerb and driving over grass to get away, it was claimed.

Mrs Lutchman's car was written off in the smash at the gates of Catherington Day School in Martyrs Avenue, Crawley, in September 2000.

Burne-Cronshaw had split with the mother-of-three on Valentine's day when she complained to management about the quality of his teaching.

She moved in with their neighbours Charles and Janet Newlands in Britten Close, Bewbush, Crawley, and a relationship between her and Mr Newlands later developed.

But her former partner allegedly plagued her and her family with phone calls and text messages and swapped threats with Mr Newlands.

On one occasion he stormed out of class after shouting at Miss Lutchman and was told to take anger management classes by the head, the jury heard.

Burne-Cronshaw denies dangerous driving and criminal damage.

Graham Crosthwaite, prosecuting, told Lewes Crown Court yesterday: "The defendant deliberately drove into the rear of a Ford Cortina belonging to Mrs Lutchman.

"It was being driven by her partner Charles Newlands and contained her seven-year-old son. Effectively the defendant and Mrs Lutchman had been in a relationship and had worked together at the Catherington School.

"The separation between her and the defendant was somewhat acrimonious and she says she was subjected to considerable harassment.

"Things became somewhat heated and Mr Newlands became involved in this as well. In fact the defendant took some time off work and had just returned from a four month lay-off."

Mr Newlands drove to pick up Mrs Lutchman, having collected her sick son from another school, and parked near Burne-Cronshaw's two-tonne white and orange van.

Mr Crosthwaite said: "The defendant seemed to be having some difficulties getting the engine running.

"Mrs Lutchman also came out and got into the Ford Cortina. Mr Newlands started the car and set off to the exit from the school car park.

"At the same time the defendant managed to get his van going. The Cortina proceeded towards the gates with the van following.

"As the Cortina slowed or stopped it was hit from behind by the van driven by the defendant and was pushed forward.

"It was then struck for a second time by the same van, effectively shunting the car forward for some distance.

"At this time the school had finished and a number of members of staff were leaving work.

"The witnesses are clear the Volkswagen revved its engine before each impact and accelerated into the Cortina. It appeared to them to be a deliberate act."

Mrs Lutchman suffered whiplash in the smash. Police were called and Burne-Cronshaw was arrested at home that evening.

When he was inter- viewed, he clai- med he was afraid of Mr Newlands.

He accused Mr Newlands of parking outside his classroom to intimidate him and said the first impact was caused by Mr Newlands deliberately braking suddenly.

Mr Crosthwaite said: "The defendant explained that, believing his vehicle had stalled, he took his foot off the clutch but the engine was still running and that caused the van to hit the Cortina for a second time."

Mrs Lutchman said she lived with the defendant for seven months before leaving him in February 2000 after she complained about the standard of his teaching.

She said: "I was concerned about the children and I spoke to senior management and a meeting was arranged with the department head.

"We went to the meeting and Nick became irate and stormed out and told me not to come home. When I got home he had locked me out."

She and her children, aged seven, nine and 11, went to live with the Newlands and she later began a relationship with Mr Newlands.

She said: "Nick wrote me numerous letters saying he wanted me back and he was sorry.

"We were still working together at the school but during that time he was making telephone calls to both my parents and my brother. He was harassing them and phoning and sending text messages to myself.

"In April, he flipped in the classroom and started shouting at me. He stormed out and thumped cupboards on the way and the headmaster told him to go home. He came back in July.

"The headmaster said he had to go to anger management classes and was not allowed back until the county certified it."

She said of the day of the crash: "I saw Nick was in his van. He was starting the van but it kept stalling.

"He was revving it and revving it. I said to Charlie, 'Wait and let him go'. It stalled again so Charlie drove off.

"I could hear the van coming behind us. The next thing I knew it went into the back of us. My son almost came off the seat.

"I turned round straight away to see if my son was all right and all of a sudden he hit us again. Charlie had his foot on the brake and we were pushed through the gates and along the road.

"I turned round to see what Nick was doing and he just looked really angry. He was really staring. He has this look when he is angry. I had seen it before.

"I got out and shouted what did he think he was doing. He just said, 'Since when have you been concerned about your children'."

Mr Newlands said he met the couple after his wife befriended them and the women used to take turns dropping their children at school.

After she left Burne-Cronshaw, a relationship started in "a fast space of time". He often stayed at a flat she moved to and there was "aggravation" with Burne-Cronshaw.

Mr Newlands said: "There were lots of phone calls. There was an incident when I struck Mr Burne-Cronshaw for which I was cautioned."

He said of the incident in the school car park: "I got almost to the school gates and he was right behind me and he hit the car. That's when I hit the brakes. He hit me again. I had no control of the car at all. I think there was a third impact as well.

"I was looking in my rear view mirror thinking, 'Oh my God, he's going to hit me again'. He was enraged."

The case continues.