Man guilty of road rage manslaughter

Andrew Peart died in hospital eight days after being injured

A driver has been found guilty of manslaughter following the death of a pedestrian in a road rage attack.

Jake McIntyre, 28, hit Andrew Peart with a metal wheel brace after the pair squared off against each other in Guide Post, Northumberland, in August.

Mr Peart, 39, died in hospital eight days later from a brain injury.

Mr McIntyre, who claimed he had been acting in self-defence, was remanded in custody and is due to be sentenced later.

The trial at Newcastle Crown Court heard Mr McIntyre was driving to the Co-op store in Guide Post to buy apple juice on 22 August when he came across Mr Peart walking in the middle of the road.

The driver sounded his horn prompting an angry retort from Mr Peart, the court heard.

Mr McIntyre, a trained mixed martial artist from Stakeford in Ashington, parked and the two men had a brief fight, jurors were told.

Mr Peart initially seemed uninjured, but his condition deteriorated and he collapsed later that night.

He later died at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary.

Jake McIntyre of Stakeford, Ashington will be sentenced at a later date

After the trial, Mr Peart's family described him as a "loving family man" who was a devoted father, brother, son, and friend.

DCI Graeme Barr, of Northumbria Police, condemned the "pointless" violence which ended with Mr Peart losing his life

He also acknowledged the "bravery and composure" shown by the victim's family in the last few months and during the two-and-a-half week trial.

"There was absolutely no reason for the levels of aggression McIntyre showed that day," DCI Barr said.

"He had had time to calm down, but returned to confront Andrew, using significant force towards a devoted father – simply because he had felt disrespected.

“This pointless violent behaviour has caused so much pain and I hope that today can help offer some comfort to the family, and to the wider tight-knit community of Guide Post.”