A MOTORIST who held an imitation gun to the head of a man whose car had tailgated him has been jailed for three and a half years.

Michael Rollinson's victim was hit with the toy gun but the incident was witnessed by an off duty police officer.

Rollinson, 29, of Alice Street, Darwen, pleaded guilty to having an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear and was also sentenced for theft, breach of a community rehabilitation order with 10 other offences considered.

Judge Anthony Russell said: "It must have been a terrifying experience because the other man was not to know whether the gun was real or not, or whether he was about to be shot."

The court was told that the victim, John Ratcliffe, had picked up his young daughter from school and was driving along Hough Fold Way, Bolton, when he noticed that a Vauxhall Corsa in front was travelling slowly.

He flashed his head lights at the driver on December 14 last year, to let him know he was behind.

David Macro, prosecuting, said the vehicle in front was still travelling slowly and so the man sounded his horn. The Corsa stopped, but then went on to follow the other car.

Mr Ratcliffe drove onto the car park of Morrison's with the other vehicle then parking up in front. He then approached the other car to see what the driver wanted, the court was told.

The Corsa driver was the defendant's brother Nicholas. However, the defendant got out first and produced what appeared to be a handgun.

Mr Macro told the court: "He pointed it straight at Mr Ratcliffe who immediately covered his head with his hand.

"He felt a blow to the side of the head. The defendant had hit him with the gun."

Rollinson was subsequently arrested after an off duty police officer followed the vehicle.

He later said he and his brother had been concerned about what the other driver was doing and thought he had been aggressive.

The imitation firearm had been a toy gun belonging to a young relative and had already been in the car, the court was told.