A VILLAGER who ran at two motorists with a chainsaw in a moment of "sheer madness" has avoided jail.

Roland Yeates, 46, smashed the windows of two cars with a petrol-driven chainsaw - while the drivers were inside - after a road-rage incident in Wheatley.

Oxford Crown Court heard on Monday that Mercedes driver Yeates, of Holton, had crashed into another car in London Road at 10.30pm on March 21, but failed to stop.

advertisement Cathy Olliver, prosecuting, said about 30 minutes later Yeates armed himself with a running chainsaw and went to the car park of the village primary school where he thought he would find the driver of the other car and his friends.

Miss Olliver said: "One of the young men quickly drove off but Mr Yeates went up to another man's car and put the chainsaw up to the window causing it to shatter.

"He approached another car and put the chainsaw to the window causing it to smash.

"A young lady inside received grazes from broken glass."

She said the car was later traced to Yeates, who told police he did not stop after the collision because he was frightened and later armed himself with the chainsaw for protection.

Peter Du Feu, defending, said: "He said it was sheer madness from him.

"It may well be this is him acting out of considerable amounts of stress."

Mr Du Feu told the court Yeates, a father-of-three and self-employed carpenter, had recently taken on a £750,000 mortgage and had been working long hours.

Yeates admitted failing to stop after an accident, failing to report an accident, two counts of criminal damage, affray and possessing an offensive weapon at an earlier hearing.

The Recorder Peter Lodder said: "Whatever provocation you felt or danger you felt, you are not entitled to take the law into your own hands.

"Your actions were not only unlawful but totally disproportionate and dangerous."

Yeates was given a 51-week jail sentence, suspended for two years, and eight points on his driving licence. He was also ordered to pay a total of £560 compensation and £250 costs.