A CARLISLE grandfather infuriated by a four-year "campaign of harassment" drove after one of his tormentors in his car, knocking the teenager off his bike.

The last straw for 62-year-old Derek Heggie came in March last year when bike riding teenagers hurled bricks through the living room window of his Harraby home, showering his pet dog with glass, Carlisle Crown Court heard.

It was the latest incident in a feud between a relative of the defendant and another man, the court heard, and it was alleged that the youths involved were paid £50 to throw the brick through Heggie’s window.

The defendant, of Welsh Road, Harraby, admitted dangerous driving.

Prosecutor Kim Whittlestone said the bad driving happened shortly before 6pm on March 21 last when the youths threw bricks through the defendant’s living room window. “The defendant asked his wife to call the police,” said the prosecutor.

But Heggie, whose home had been targeted on “numerous occasions”, decided to pursue and if possible catch one of the youths. Dashcam footage from his Renault Megan showed him driving at 43mph in an area with a 20mph limit.

A video clip played in court showed the car driving across a playing field as the youths flee or jump out of the way.

At one point, Heggie drives after a boy on a bike before the car hits the youth, knocking him to the ground.

Exiting the car, Heggie ordered the teenager into his Renault, warning the youth he would be killed if he refused. Heggie then drove the boy to his home and handed him over to the police, the court heard.

The defendant said that he and his partner were subjected to “repeated attacks,” linked to the feud.

Andrew Gurney, defending, said: “Mr Heggie and his family have been the victims of a targeted campaign of harassment for a period of four years. It’s had a significant impact on the family, and impacted on his partner’s physical and mental health.”

The March 21 attack was one of four occasions when Heggie’s windows were smashed yet Cumbria Police had taken “no or little action,” said the lawyer.

On March 21, his grandchildren had just left the house. 

The defendant received hate mail and was targeted by Facebook hate groups, with false and defamatory accusations. There had been menacing telephone calls, which included rape threats, said Mr Gurney.

Such was the harassment that Heggie’s grandchildren and other relatives were now no longer able to visit his home. On March 21, Heggie - frustrated by police 'inaction' - felt his only option was to catch one of the youths.

“He now accepts that what he did was wrong,” added the lawyer.

Judge Richard Archer said there was no dispute that Heggie was the victim of a “campaign of harassment” but nor was there any doubt that Heggie's driving that day had been “particularly dangerous.”

The judge said: “Indeed, you took many risks in driving as you did. Probably the greatest risk of all is that which was shown to me in the dashcam footage this afternoon.”

Heggie deliberately drove across a playing field where there were young people present and he collided with one of the youths.

“Indeed, not allowing the red mist which had descended to end, you bundled him into your vehicle and drove him back to your address,” said the judge. Judge Archer said the video showed how persistent Heggie was.

But while the offence deserved jail, the background and Heggie’s mitigation and remorse had to be considered. That and Heggie’s last offence being a class C drug possession 30 years ago meant the jail term could be suspended.

Heggie was given 41 weeks jail suspended for 18 months.

He was given a one-year driving ban and told he must pass an extended re-test before driving independently again. But, warned the judge, Heggie must not continue to take the law into his own hands, no matter what the provocation.