A MOTORIST has been left shaken after he was forced to drive a man 22 miles after he climbed into the back seat of his car and attacked him.

The motorist was stationary in his car at the roundabout leading out of Sainsbury's at Stanway, Colchester, when the man opened the back door of his vehicle and climbed in at about 11.45am on Saturday.

The driver felt an object pushed into his side and he was then hit about the head. He was then ordered him to take the man to Harwich.

Det Con Pete Gartland, of Colchester CID, said the victim did as he was told and initially took the A12 and A120 towards Harwich before going past Horsley Cross.

At about 12.40pm the man told the victim to stop on Harwich Road, Little Oakley., where he got out close to Little Oakley Hall and ran off.

The victim was not seriously hurt, but was left shaken by the ordeal.

"This is an extremely unusual set of circumstances and we are keen to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the man getting into the car,” he said.

“The vehicle is a black Ford Focus, with AA Driving School written on the sides.

“It is quite distinctive and at the time of day that this happened there would have been many other motorists and shoppers around.

"If anyone was in the area of Sainsbury's at this time and recalls seeing a white man, of large build, aged around 45, with a chubby face and dark stubble getting into a car at the roundabout we would urge them to get in touch.”

The attacker is described as being about 5ft 10in to 6ft tall and was wearing a blue denim baseball cap and a grey waterproof jacket.

Det Con Gartland added: "He did not steal anything from the victim and at this stage his only motive appears to have been to get to Harwich but he has left a frightened and very shaken victim in his wake.

"We would urge anyone who saw anything, who believes they know who this man is or who has any other information about this incident to get in touch with us as soon as possible."

Anyone with information about the incident should call Colchester CID on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.