Andrew Douglas Hart, 52, pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a vehicle in Gladstone Magistrates Court

The terrifying ordeal left the victims, a family, scared they would be assaulted or run off the road.

Andrew Douglas Hart, 52, pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a vehicle.

A Gladstone man narrowly avoided jail time on Friday for his involvement in a terrifying road rage incident which left a family “scared for their lives”.

Andrew Douglas Hart, 52, pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court to dangerous operation of a vehicle.

On February 23, about 11.30am, Hart was driving along Philip Street, Kin Kora, when he drove behind a black Nissan Navara, which contained witnesses, and began to beep the horn and tailgate the car.

Hart followed the witnesses onto the roundabout intersecting Glenlyon Street and Philip Street, where he sped up and used his car to block the witnesses from exiting onto Philip Street.

During the entire terrifying ordeal, Hart was yelling abuse at the witnesses and demanding they “pull over”.

The pursuit continued onto Dalrymple Drive, Toolooa, where the abuse and tailgating continued.

Hart was driving behind the witnesses within a one-metre distance, which forced the witnesses to call triple-0.

Hart continued to follow the witnesses through an array of streets past Gladstone-Benaraby Road, where they called triple-0 a second time and got advice to drive to Gladstone Police Station to guarantee their safety.

The witnesses exceeded the speed limit and drove through red lights to avoid Hart on their way to Gladstone Police Station.

Hart continued his pursuit of the witnesses through Auckland Street until turning off a street before he hit the CBD.

He later participated in a recorded interview where he stated the witnesses had cut him off and he became upset.

He further mentioned at the time he was going through some personal issues which contributed to his reaction.

Hart concluded by telling police he was remorseful and felt embarrassed and apologetic regarding his conduct.

Police prosecutor Carl Spargo said Hart’s actions caused the victims, a family, to fear they would be assaulted or run off the road.

Magistrate Bevan Manthey sentenced Hart to 12 months’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for two years, and his licence was suspended for two years. A conviction was recorded.