AN out-of-control driver tailgated an off duty police officer before driving into oncoming traffic in a bid to overtake.

Adam Smith, 35, narrowly avoided causing a serious crash when he attempted the second of two dangerous manoeuvres.

A witness, who was driving in the opposite direction, watched as Smith lost control, struck the undergrowth at the side of Maldon Road, Birch, and flipped his car through the air.

Barry Hargreaves, prosecuting at Colchester Magistrates’ Court, said an off-duty police officer also captured some of the incident on his dash cam.

The court heard Smith, of Spring Sedge Close, Stanway, had recently purchased the Mercedes involved in the incident.

“He sees Mr Smith carry out a dangerous overtake,” said Mr Hargreaves.

“That manoeuvre is carried out after he had tailgated the car for a period of time.

“He then overtakes again further along the road, going on the wrong side of the road, there’s an accident that occurs when the defendant’s car has rolled and lost control.

“It is described by another witness who is driving towards the defendant.

“As he advances at him the car is side on, before hitting trees, which sent the car up in the air and over his bonnet. The car rolls back on to all four wheels.”

He added: “This was a deliberate disregard for the safety of others and excessive speeds on a busy road where an accident occurs.

“It was aggressive driving in that he was tailgating the car before overtaking in dangerous circumstances.”

Smith admitted a charge of dangerous driving at court yesterday.

Raph Piggot, mitigating, said Smith, who works as tarmacer, was shocked by the crash and had learned his lesson.

“In voluntary interview he gave full admissions, he fully accepts that his driving was disgraceful and he acted like a complete idiot,” he said.

“A relationship had broken up and the partner was being extremely difficult about allowing child contact.

“He was extremely unhappy on the day he was driving, suffering stress and emotional disturbance.”

Magistrates branded Smith’s behaviour “disgraceful” and sentenced him to four months in prison. He was banned from driving for 15 months.