I still wake up under that car of his, I'm terrified of going out alone, and I rarely drive anywhere. This has wrecked my life

Ann MacDonald

"It should be the same with cars. The courts need the power to put these madmen off the road for good.

The court heard that Morris, 39, pulled up in front of her after he overtook on a sharp bend, forcing her to stop on a road near Kinloss, Morayshire, in March this year.

She had flashed her lights at the unemployed electrician because, she said, he had cut her up during the risky manoeuvre.

Immediately after she had stopped she looked in horror as Morris reversed his car and smashed into the front of her Fiesta.

Insurance demand

She got out to inspect the damage, only to be bombarded with a tirade of abuse from Morris, but still demanded insurance details from him.

When he refused and turned tail to get back into his car, she stood in its path to take down the registration number.

But Morris drove the car at her, knocking her down and trapping her leg underneath. Ignoring her screams he drove the car at her twice more before driving away.

Morris was sentenced to a total of six months imprisonment and a five-year driving ban. He was also fined �500 but elected to serve 14 days in prison rather than pay it.

Mrs McDonald, an aromatherapist from Lossiemouth, said: "Morris should never be allowed on the road again.

"He should be kept in prison for five years, but he'll be out in three months after parole.

Criminal history

"My sentence lasts forever. I still wake up under that car of his, I'm terrified of going out alone, and I rarely drive anywhere. This has wrecked my life."

Mrs MacDonald appeared in court on crutches, still limping as a result of the incident. Her right leg and ankle suffered torn ligament damage, and she is receiving counselling for trauma.

It was revealed in court that Morris, from Hopeman, had served time for GBH, wounding and affray among a three-page list of 23 previous convictions in English courts.

He produced a clutch of character references from his associates, but Sheriff Noel McPartlin said that while Morris was probably a peaceable character most of the time, there were obviously times when the reverse was true.