AN aggressive driver who knocked a teenager off his moped in rush hour traffic has been banned from the roads and given a suspended prison sentence.

Hairdresser Paul Mark House, 49, crowded the 16-year-old from behind, overtook him and braked so sharply in front of him the teenager crashed into him, said Melanie Ibbotson, prosecuting.

He then got out of his BMW, shouted at the 16-year-old and pushed him backwards on Tadcaster Road,York, before leaving the scene without giving his details, said Melanie Ibbotson, prosecuting.

But a member of the public took a photo of his car and he was traced. A garage estimated it would cost more than £1,000 to repair the moped.

House, of Orchard Way, York, denied dangerous driving, assault and failure to stay at the scene of a traffic collision but was convicted by York magistrates after a trial.

He was given a 10-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months, banned from driving for 12 months, ordered to take an extended driving test before driving alone again and ordered to pay £115 compensation to the teenager, £620 prosecution costs and a £115 statutory surcharge.

In a victim personal statement, the teenager said he had had to pay £115 towards the repair costs which he could not afford and was now much more nervous in traffic.

For House, Harry Bayman said he still believed he had braked to avoid hitting pedestrians in front of him.

He had various medical problems, including painful spinal problems and was suffering from anxiety and depression.

Without his car, he would have difficulty getting to work.

Mrs Ibbotson said the 16-year-old was riding to college in heavy traffic along Tadcaster Road at 9am on January 11.

House was so close behind him, the teenager signalled to him to drop back to a safe distance, but House overtook him and immediately braked so that the teenager had to slow down.

House then braked more sharply. The teenager was not injured.