'I thought I was going to die when stranger in van started ramming my car'

A van driver who repeatedly rammed a car being driven by a terrified woman he didn't know has been jailed and banned from driving.

Matthew Bailey had been drinking after taking medication when he got behind the wheel and began driving very close behund the back if his victim's car on the A53 towards Leek. Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard that as she reached a crossroad he rammed into the back of her vehicle.

The woman called the police and continued to drive, but 34-year-old But Bailey continued to ram her. She told the court: "I have never been as terrified as when this was taking place. I genuinely feared for my life especially when it became obvious he was not going to back down."

Prosecutor James Hudson said the victim was driving on the A53 towards Leek at 10.55pm on October 12 last year. At the time she was hands-free and talking to her dad. Mr Hudson said: "She noticed a van very close to the rear of her car and could not even see the headlights. She could see the driver, a man she had never seen before.

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"She told her dad there was a van behind driving extremely close. As she approached the crossroads to Leek and Cheddleton he rammed her. She did not know what to do. Her dad told her to call the police. She called the police using her other phone. She was too scared to end the call with her dad.

"She continued to drive past Aldi and Farmfoods in Leek. He continued to shunt her vehicle over and over. She was terrified. She had no idea why. She looked out of her rear mirror and could see he was leaving a gap. He sped up to hit the rear of her vehicle at speed.

"She continued to drive on Buxton Road while he was still ramming her vehicle. She was scared in case he rammed her and she hit a pedestrian. She sounded her horn. He would not stop ramming her. She drove the lap again. She did not know how many times she was rammed."

The court heard he has previous convictions for drink-driving in 2015 and in March 2021 when he was banned from driving for three years. He was again banned for disqualified driving in January 2024. In his police interview Bailey said he had been drinking while taking prescribed medication.

In a victim statement read to the court the woman said: "I have never been as terrified as when this was taking place. I genuinely feared for my life especially when it became obvious he was not going to back down.

"I have been struggling to sleep and have flashbacks. I had been visiting my mum in hospital. I am now constantly on high alert and jumpy. I am frustrated he has made me feel like this."

Bailey, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, failing to provide a specimen for analysis and driving without insurance. Barry White, mitigating, said Bailey was remorseful.

Mr White said: "No-one should have to be as fearful as she was by him driving in the manner he was. His remorse does appear to be very genuine." He added that Bailey had issues with his mental health and had found the last 10 months in custody very difficult.

Judge Graeme Smith said: "What you did to this woman was unforgivable and it was terrifying for her. She feared for her life as you followed her in your van repeatedly ramming into her. You can offer no explanation as to why you did that.

"A combination of having drink and your medication led to some sort of blackout, not one affecting your ability to function. We know you had arranged to meet with a friend for a drink and you were capable of following her in the way you did.

"This is just about the most serious case of dangerous driving that I can contemplate and I start with two years, the offence maximum. In addition, the driving while disqualified and failing to provide a specimen warrant separate sentences."

Bailey has been jailed for 21 months and banned from driving for four years. He must pass an extended driving test before he can drive again.