Dangerous driver drove through Hanham like he was in bumper car
Steven Glanvill suffered mental health difficulties before continually bashing into rear of woman's car
Geoffrey Bennett
Steven Glanvill bumped woman's car on Hanham High Street
A dangerous driver repeatedly bashed a vehicle up Hanham High Street as though he was on a fairground bumper cars ride.
Steven Glanvill had suffered a combination of traumatic events which caused him to have a mental health episode.
Bristol Crown Court heard he was driving his Vauxhall Zafira when he continually collided into the rear of a Hyundai i10 being driven by Susan Buckman, who was with her daughter.
Glanvill, 54, of St Aidans Road in St George, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving in May last year.
Bristol Crown Court
The recorder Miss Hannah Willcocks handed him a 12-month community order with 80 hours' unpaid work.
She told him: "It must have been extremely frightening both for her and her daughter.
"She felt you were using your car as a weapon to bully her."
Glanvill was banned from driving for a year, told to pass an extended driving test and pay an £85 victim surcharge.
Hannah Squire, prosecuting, said it was on May 30 last year when Glanvill struck.
She said: "For whatever reason Mr Glanvill decided to drive very close up the back of Mrs Susan Buckman.
"There were gestures from the defendant towards Mrs Buckman.
"She had no idea why he seemed to be angry.
"She was bumped from behind and she could see he was very close behind, and felt another bump, a very deliberate bump."
The court heard Mrs Buckman got out of her car and asked him to leave some space behind.
Miss Squire said: "She was clearly angry with him.
"She believed his speech seemed to be slurred."
When she set off again Glanvill bumped her harder, the court heard.
Machete-wielding teen from Bristol part of cross county crack operation into rural Wiltshire
As they went up Bryants Hill at low speed he had his head out of his window and was gesturing.
Mrs Buckman pulled to a stop and Glanvill bumped her again.
Miss Squire said: "She got out and asked him for his details.
"He didn't provide any and he reversed away and drove off.
"As he drove off he hit a kerb as he drove down Rossiter's Lane.
"Fortunately there was little damage to her vehicle, which required a new panel and a respray."
Police tracked down Glanvill by his car registration number.
He told police he had no memory of events, having suffered a mental health breakdown.
He apologized for the incident and offered to pay for damage.
Mrs Buckman made a statement in which she said the experience made her anxious on the road and had put her daughter off of driving.
She stated: "He was using his car as a weapon to bully us."
Alec Small, defending, said his client had been bereaved of his brother and family members had suffered serious health problems.
He said: "The combination led to an episode.
"The last thing he remembers is going to his brother's grave in Kingswood.
"He became Mr Hyde.
"He accepts it was a traumatic incident for the victims."
The court heard Glanvill now gets to work in Avommouth on an electric bike.
Hanham