A father-of-four, who committed a "terrible" act of dangerous driving by repeatedly aiming his car at a love rival, has been jailed.

Ian Joseph revved his engine and sped at Anthony Springer three times in a Volkswagen Golf before hitting him on the fourth attempt.

The 35-year-old snapped after seeing his victim walking with his ex-lover Louise Minter and two of their children, Oxford Crown Court heard yesterday. Judge Tom Corrie, sentencing Joseph to two-and-a-half years' imprisonment, said: "This is one of the worst conceivable cases of dangerous driving. It was a terrible act and is not forgivable.

"You became enraged because Miss Minter had a new boyfriend and because she had been refusing you contact with your children." Mr Springer needed hospital treatment after suffering bruising to his knee and back, which is still causing pain.

But Judge Corrie said he accepted that Joseph did not aim the car at his former partner or their children, none of whom were struck or injured.

It was also accepted that Mr Springer had been egging Joseph on by beckoning him with his hands.

The court heard that the incident happened at about 10.45pm on October 15, last year, in Banbury Road, Oxford.

Joseph, of Chillingworth Crescent, Wood Farm, Oxford, was convicted by a jury of dangerous driving and causing actual bodily harm. After hitting Mr Springer, the defendant drove off and collided with a lorry.

The court heard that Joseph had previous convictions for robbery and racially abusing an Asian woman at the Cowley centre in Oxford, on January 6.

Anthony McGeorge, defending, said: "He accepts the verdict of the jury and apologises for his behaviour."

Mr McGeorge said his client had been prescribed anti-depressants as he had been prevented from seeing his two children.

Joseph was also banned from driving for four-and-a-half years.