Mark Van Kampen, 36, fronts Geelong Magistrates Court after road rage incidents

A man hit the side mirror of a woman’s car in an act of road rage but his lawyer argued he is a “kind and compassionate” person.

Mark Van Kampen, 36, fronted the Geelong Magistrates Court on Wednesday. Picture: Facebook

A man hit the side mirror of a woman’s car in an act of road rage but his lawyer argued he is a “kind and compassionate” person.

Mark Van Kampen, 36, fronted the Geelong Magistrates Court on Wednesday and pleaded guilty to charges including careless driving and wilful damage.

On December 20 last year about 7pm, a woman was driving along Murradoc Rd between Drysdale and St Leonards when she noticed a green Subaru, driven by Van Kampen, overtaking her while there was oncoming traffic.

The court heard Van Kampen almost hit the woman’s car and she sounded her horn in anger.

Van Kampen then repeatedly put on his brakes, causing the woman to also brake suddenly.

The woman then overtook Van Kampen on double lines.

While both vehicles were stopped at an intersection, Van Kampen then got out of his vehicle and hit the driver’s side mirror multiple times.

The interaction was filmed by a witness.

Van Kampen was later interviewed at the Bellarine police station and made full admissions to the offending.

He told police he “became frustrated when the (woman) did not allow him to overtake her” and was breaking as he “wanted more distance” between their vehicles.

On January 3 this year about 7.15pm, a man and his wife were driving a ute along Portarlington Rd, between Leopold and Drysdale, towing a boat and a trailer weighing about two tonnes.

The man was driving in the right lane to overtake two vehicles and saw a green Subaru, driven by Van Kampen, approaching behind him.

The man then pulled into the left lane as Van Kampen overtook him and also pulled into the left lane.

He then repeatedly suddenly braked, forcing the man to also brake and narrowly avoided colliding.

Van Kampen later told police that someone sitting “that close up (his) a***” gives him anxiety and makes him nervous and frightened.”

Van Kampen’s lawyer said his client “acted poorly” in both situations and has seen a psychologist for his anger however there were no documents provided to the court which showed he had received counselling.

His lawyer said Van Kampen runs his own business supporting people with disabilities and was a “caring and compassionate person”.

He urged Magistrate Franz Holzer to not convict Van Kampen or interfere with his license, which he depends on for work.

“He knows his behaviour was poor and he knows the matter in which he drove was careless and that the act of brake checking on both occasions was careless,” his lawyer said.

Mr Holzer said the matters “weren’t trivial” and a conviction was necessary.

Van Kampen was convicted, fined $1000 and placed on a good behaviour bond for 12 months.

He almost must complete a safe driving program and an anger management program.

Originally published as Mark Van Kampen, 36, fronts Geelong Magistrates Court after road rage incidents