A DRIVER has been jailed for "aggressively" stopping a motorcyclist from overtaking - causing him to crash and suffer life-changing injuries.

Samuel Markwick, from Valley Drive, Brighton, swerved into the biker's path, causing him to lose control and crash into a parked car.

The 61-year-old motorcyclist had to have spinal surgery and has been left with permanent mobility issues and is unable to work.

Marwick carried on driving following the incident on the A259 Worms Lane, in Middleton-on-Sea, near Bognor, but later handed himself in to police.

The 31-year-old appeared at court where he admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving and failing to stop at the scene of a collision.

Detective Sergeant Neil Cox said: "The victim in this case suffered extensive serious injuries in a collision that could easily have been avoided had Samuel Markwick simply allowed the victim to safely complete the overtake.

"The victim was perfectly within his rights to overtake the vehicle but Markwick behaved aggressively and dangerously to prevent him from doing so.

"His actions were completely unacceptable and fell far below the standards expected of a road user. We encourage motorists to be patient and to treat all other road users with respect."

On December 23, 2019, Markwick cut in front of the motorcyclist in his black Ford Focus at the roundabout on Flansham Lane.

The motorcyclist travelled behind him on the A259 for a short distance and, as traffic was moving at 40mph in a 60mph zone, tried to overtake.

However, Markwick, who was also seen making gestures out of his driver’s window, deliberately stopped him being able to overtake.

As a result of his actions, the victim lost control of his motorcycle and crashed into a car parked in a layby nearby.

He was airlifted to hospital in Brighton with potentially life-threatening injuries.

After undergoing spinal surgery, he was discharged to continue his recovery at home.

Markwick was sentenced to two-and-a-half-years in prison.

He was also disqualified from driving for four years.

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