A minor verbal altercation between two Wollongong drivers escalated into an all-out road rage incident involving weapons, a court has heard.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Keiraville man Christian Garcia, 18, tailgated his victim for several kilometres before brandishing a tyre lever and a knife at the man - a father who had his three children in the car - following a minor traffic incident half an hour earlier.
Port Kembla Local Court heard the victim and his family were travelling north along Flinders Street in Wollongong about 3pm on November 6 last year when Garcia, driving in the same direction, turned into a driveway, allegedly cutting off the victim.
The action prompted the man to call to Garcia "was that really worth it?" out of his open window.
The victim continued driving, dropping his wife at another location, before returning to Wollongong.
While driving along Mercury Street, the victim noticed Garcia tailgating him.
He said Garcia continued to follow him, often driving erratically by speeding up and slowing down, for about five minutes, before the victim pulled over in Fisher Street.
Garcia came up alongside him and the pair exchanged words, with Garcia calling him "a smart arse".
Garcia then pulled out a tyre lever from inside his car and swung it around, before producing a 15-centimetre knife and waving it at the victim, who still had his three children - aged five, four and six months - in the car.
The man said he feared for his own safety as well as the safety of his children.
Both drivers then left the scene, however the victim took down Garcia's number plate and contacted police when he arrived home.
Officers attended Garcia's home later that evening and charged him with an intimidation offence.
Police documents said he "freely surrendered" both the tyre lever and the knife.
During an interview at a later time, Garcia apologised for his actions, conceding he'd had a "brain snap".
In court on Tuesday, Magistrate David Degnan rejected Garcia's request for the non-recording of a conviction for the crime, saying road rage was a serious offence.
Instead he fined him $1000 and placed him on a two-year good behaviour bond.
