Daniel Steven Wesley May pleads guilty to road rage attack on Gold Coast

A man drove down the wrong side of a busy Gold Coast road in an attempt to mow down his victim during a violent road rage outburst - then chased and threatened to kill him. SEE THE FOOTAGE

A man who used his car “as a weapon” in a frightening road rage attack – only narrowly missing his victim – has been locked behind bars.

Daniel Steven Wesley May had already swerved at, cut off and thrown a glass bottle at his victim’s vehicle during the confrontation on Oxley Drive in the city’s north at about 4.40pm on February 17.

Footage played in Daniel Steven Wesley May's sentencing. Picture: supplied

Footage played in Southport Magistrates Court during the 23-year-old’s sentencing showed him then drive directly at the other man down the wrong side of the road, just barely missing him and crashing into his car instead.

Prosecutor Erin Garland said the victim had to “run for his life” as May jumped out of his car and started chasing him, calling out: “Come here f– ker, I’m going to kill you – I’ve got a knife, I’ve got a knife c– t”.

The victim sought refuge in a stranger’s vehicle before May drove off.

The court was told May was not armed when he ran after the other man, but did have a knife in his car. He was also punched in the face by his victim at one point during the confrontation.

Footage played in Daniel Steven Wesley May's sentencing. Picture: supplied

Ms Garland said there was no way of knowing what would have occurred if May had caught up with his target, who was justifiably afraid for his life.

“It is only by sheer good luck and not by any management of the defendant that no one was seriously injured,” she said.

The court was told May had only months earlier been sentenced for a terrifying road rage attack on a woman and her partner on the M1, and was still completing a community service order at the time of his latest shock act.

Daniel May leaving the Southport courthouse. Picture: Jessica Paul

Defence solicitor Bettina Webb, of Howden Saggers Lawyers, said May had now started seeing a counsellor to begin addressing the anger issues fuelling both incidents.

Ms Webb said her client claimed the confrontation escalated after his victim said, “Turn your music down, you junkie c– t”, while both vehicles were stopped at traffic lights.

“Within minutes it just goes very badly and very quickly,” she said.

“It’s simply that Mr May cannot unpack or regulate those emotions, and there is nothing further that can be offered by way of explanation in relation to that.”

May was supported in court by his mother through both parts of his sentencing, and she became emotional as her son’s fate was read out in court.

Acting Magistrate Sarah Thompson said May seemed to have learned nothing from his firsrt sentence, despite quitting his job to quickly complete the 80 hours of community service.

“There was real and actual danger to the complainant and to other road users,” Ms Thompson said.

“You used your car as a weapon.

“You have not been able to demonstrate a genuine attempt at rehabilitation – had you come to court with that kind of evidence, your outcome may well have been different.”

May pleaded guilty to several offences including dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, threatening violence, and endangering the safe use of a vehicle by throwing an object.

He will spend four months in jail before being released on probation for a further 20 months. He was also disqualified from driving for three years.

Originally published as Daniel Steven Wesley May pleads guilty to road rage attack on Gold Coast