A FORMER roofer tried to pull a passenger out of another car in a road rage incident in Hereford, a court has heard.

Jack Aston Thomas Sims entered a guilty plea when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford.

Prosecutor Ralph Robyns Landricombe said the victim had been travelling with a friend on Aylestone Hill in Hereford on June 20 when they accidentally cut Sims up.

"It seems they were using the wrong lane," Mr Robyns Landricombe said.

"This irritated Sims, who followed them, beeping his horn. He pulled up alongside them at the traffic lights shouting and swearing at the driver, who apologised."

But Sims then got out of his van after the victim said something, opening the victim's door and asking him to get out for a fight before attempting to pull the victim from the car and punching him on the cheek.

The court heard Sims then left the scene and police were called, while the victim went to hospital to have his injury assessed.

In interview, Sims said the victim had spat at him, but there was no forensic evidence of this on his clothes.

He admitted that he had been stupid getting out of the van and that he had caused the injury.

Speaking on his own behalf, 26-year-old Sims said he could not argue with what had been said.

"I have been here a few times in the last six months, and I have lost my roofing business, I have lost everything," Sims said. 

"I jumped out of the van when I should not have, but I just reacted."

Magistrates told Sims he had acquired quite a record of aggressive behaviour and that he needed to calm down.

Sims, of Hylidae Road, Hereford, was handed a 12-month community order and must pay costs of £95 and a £100 victim surcharge.