THE landlord of a pub near Worcester rammed his 4x4 into the back of a car driven by a teenager after a row, a court has been told.

David Swinburn, of the Fox, Bransford, followed the Rover car towards Leigh Sinton and drove into the back of it near the Royal Oak pub, Lisa Hancox, prosecuting, told Worcester Crown Court.

Two of the three occupants of the car had earlier had a disagreement with his son and there was no love lost between them, Miss Hancox said.

She said: “He decided to take matters into his own hands and teach them a lesson. He saw them driving past and targeted them.”

She told the court he drove up behind them, flashing his lights, speeding up and slowing down before he finally rammed into the car.

Swinburn, aged 43, denies dangerous driving in his Vauxhall Frontera on the A4103 and B4503 on September 17 last year.

He claimed he had not been driving the car that night and shards of glass from the Rover found in the Frontera’s engine compartment were there because the driver had reversed into his vehicle while it was parked at the pub and then driven off.

The Rover driver, 18-year-old Christopher Riley, was in his father’s car returning from Worcester and had pulled up in the lay-by near the Fox at about 11pm for a passenger to have a cigarette.

As he drove away, he saw Swinburn in the Frontera. He told the court he had felt scared and intimidated as he saw it overtake several vehicles and drive up close behind him on the way towards the Bransford mini roundabout.

He said it then followed him at about 60mph along the road to Leigh Sinton.

The Frontera overtook, slowed down at the 30mph limit and veered onto the opposite carriageway.

Mr Riley said he passed it and had turned left towards Malvern on the B4503 when his car was hit from behind.

The back window and lights were smashed and the back bumper damaged at a total cost of £1,250.

He told the jury that as he got out of the car, he saw Swinburn do a quick U-turn and drive off, swearing out of the open window and shouting at them.

One of the passengers had taken a short piece of film on a mobile phone as the crash happened, which was played to the jury, along with a recording of a 999 call made from the scene.

Mr Riley denied a suggestion by Nicholas Berry, defending, that he had already been in an accident and had lied to involve Swinburn following the earlier disagreement.

The trial continues.