A man who broke a motorist's nose and chased him through the streets on a road rage rampage - after he crashed into the victim's car - could be sent to prison when he is sentenced tomorrow.

Magistrate Will Francis told Eric Kenneth Dunkley, 29, that he was minded to hand down a custodial sentence after he pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm against Colm Mooney in February.

“Road rage, in my view, is something that has to be stamped on with both feet,” said Mr. Francis.

“Prison is the only proper sentence for this accused, who has already done prison for assault and violence. The only question is how much?”

Dunkley, of Sugar Apple Lane, Pembroke, was yesterday also found guilty of causing actual bodily harm against security guard Gladwin Edness on the night in question after Mr. Edness came to the assistance of the victim.

Prosecutor Wayne Caines alleged that Dunkley had been travelling at speed along Harbour Road at about 12.30 a.m. when he tried to overtake Mr. Mooney, who was driving a white jeep with his wife Elaine beside him.

Giving evidence yesterday, Mr. Mooney told the court that Dunkley collided with the back of the jeep as he tried to pass it, and the two cars came to a halt.

Dunkley is then said to have approached the couple as they sat in their car, reached through the open driver's side window and punched Mr. Mooney in the jaw, without saying a word.

The shocked couple then took off in their car, with Dunkley and his male passenger on their tail.

They travelled along Harbour Road, Burnt House Hill and Middle Road, before the concerned couple decided to make their way up to Southampton Princess Hotel for help.

Mr. Mooney told the court that he and his wife jumped out of their car and fled inside, with Dunkley pursuing them close behind.

Mr. Mooney said: “We went up to the Southampton Princess and pulled up outside.

“When the defendant came in, we were standing in the reception area. I turned around and he just punched me.”

Mr. Mooney told the court that the second time Dunkley hit him it was hard in his face, causing blood to gush from his nose.

The victim said that after the punch, he bent over and clasped his face, until his wife led him away. He later realised his nose had been broken.

Security guard Mr. Edness, who is a security supervisor at the Southampton Princess Hotel, told the court that he was standing at the bell desk when he first saw the couple fleeing into the lobby area.

“They came rushing in, heading straight for the front desk,” said Mr. Edness.

“At the same time, they were shouting out ‘help us, help us'.

“At the time they reached the front desk, this other gentlemen came rushing in. When he reached the desk, he gripped Mr. Mooney, pulled him around, fired and struck him. He punched him in the face.”

Mr. Edness said he believed Dunkley was going to hit out at Mr. Mooney again, so he stood between the two and put his arm up, urging Dunkley to “take it easy”.

The court heard that Dunkley then struck out at the security officer, punching him in the side of the head, around his temple and ear, and asked the guard if he wanted to fight.

Dunkley and Mr. Edness are then said to have kicked out at each other before the Police arrived on the scene.

However, Dunkley gave a different version of events when he took the stand yesterday.

He denied assaulting the security officer, and said he had not punched Mr. Mooney, but instead slapped him in the face.

The accused told the court he had been travelling along Harbour Road when the white jeep came to a sudden halt without signalling.

He said he tried to overtake the vehicle at late notice, but clipped the back and so got out to ask Mr. Mooney why he had stopped.

The defendant, who was represented by defence lawyer Richard Hector, said that when Mr. Mooney failed to answer, he leaned in and slapped him across the face out of frustration.

Dunkley said the couple then left the scene, but said he did not follow in his vehicle, which belonged to a friend of his.

However, he said soon afterwards he saw the couple's car as they drove along Middle Road, so he decided to follow them to find out why they had left the scene of an accident and why they had stopped.

He said: “I walked into the hotel. I did not run. I went to the front desk and asked why they had left. He never replied. I was frustrated with the damage on the car and him driving off.

“In the process, I gave him a slap - for frustration and because he did not answer me. I was provoked.”

The defendant said he was wearing a ring at the time, and that was probably what had broken his nose, but he said metal plates in both of his hands prevented him from making a fist and throwing a punch.

Dunkley said the security guard gripped him and turned him around and “threw” a kick at him.

He said it was instinct and so kicked back at the guard, but denied punching him.

Magistrate Mr. Francis said he had heard all sides of the story, but believed the version told by Mr. Mooney and Mr. Edness.

He found Dunkley guilty of assaulting the security officer, causing him actual bodily harm.

Mr. Caines urged Mr. Francis to send the matter to Supreme Court for sentencing, where the defendant could be treated more harshly, and asked that Dunkley be remanded into custody in the meantime.

However, after listening to arguments from Mr. Hector, Mr. Francis chose, instead, to adjourn the matter until tomorrow for sentencing, and extended Dunkley's bail in the meantime.

But he said the sentence was likely to involve jail time.

He said: “We are reaching the stage where somebody unknown to you found themselves being chased and having to seek shelter in a hotel. The story I have heard is road rage.”