A MAN who smashed a car window and racially abused a motorist has been allowed to keep his driving licence.

Reginald Beager was travelling on the A40 Northern Bypass Road, near Oxford, on April 2 last year.

Michael Roques, prosecuting, said the 40-year-old defendant drove up close behind Lucas Kuta and was waved past.

But Beager overtook “too close” to Mr Kuta’s car, forcing it to veer off the road and on to the verge. Beager then stopped.

Mr Roques said: “The defendant got out of his own car and was shouting and swearing and threatening to kill Mr Kuta.

“He called him ‘Polish scum’ and punched the window of the car which Mr Kuta was sitting in, causing it to smash.”

Mr Roques added that when Beager’s victim said he was going to call the police, Beager got into his car, drove a short way up a nearby cycle path and forced his way back into the traffic.

Other cars had to move to make way and eventually he turned left into a road marked “no left turn” and drove off, Mr Roques said.

He told Judge Gordon Risius that Beager had 10 convictions for 21 offences, including for an incident in 1997 where he again got out of his vehicle and struck another car.

Initially denying the offences, the defendant changed his plea before his trial and admitted careless driving, causing racially aggravated fear of violence and criminal damage.

After evidence was given of Beager’s work and family commitments, Judge Risius said he would not ban him from driving.

Instead he made the defendant subject to an 18-month community order with anger management training, supervision and 200 hours of unpaid work.

The defendant, from Cheltenham, was also told to pay £275 compensation and was given six points on his driving licence.

In Oxford Crown Court on Thursday Judge Risius said: “This is not the first time you have behaved disgracefully on a public road.”