A STOURPORT man found guilty of driving dangerously in the town's Co-Op car park has been ordered to carry out 180 hours unpaid work.

Lee Meola, 23, of Malham Road, Burlish Park, said to have frightened a 60-year-old retired teacher with his driving, was also disqualified for two years.

Meola, who was sentenced by Judge Patrick Thomas QC at Birmingham Crown Court, was found guilty after a two-day trial at Worcester earlier this month.

Lyn Payne told the jury that she had to jump out of the way to avoid being run down by Meola as she crossed the car park.

He denied an allegation by Mrs Payne that he had threatened her by saying: "I'm going to find out where you live and I'm going to burn your house down."

Bad feeling began at noon on November 1 last year, when Mrs Payne refused to let Meola into a line of traffic after he parked in a drop-off bay. He followed her and she felt small bumps at the back of her car. She stopped and took Meola's registration number.

When she parked further round, he stopped behind her and shouted threats, she alleged. She ignored him but, as she walked across the car park, he came close to driving into her.

Meola told PC Nicola Hampshire that he was annoyed when Mrs Payne would not let him out of the drop-off point. He felt she was "taking the mickey" by driving slowly round the car park.

He stopped to "have a go" at her but denied making threats. He claimed she had driven slowly in front of him just to wind him up and he apologised if she felt frightened.