A MAN has been fined after carrying out a road rage attack outside a McDonald’s.

Darren Francis, 24, attacked the Boulter family, from Colchester, after he was cut up on the roundabout leading to McDonald’s in Weeley.

Magistrates heard he followed them into the car park, got out and ran over to their car, punched David Boulter in the neck and pushed his wife Susan and daughter Natasha to the ground.

Francis, of Tokely Road, Frating, admitted three charges of assault by beating when he appeared at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on yesterday.

Sharon Hall, prosecuting, said: “It appears the victims were involved in a road rage type incident with an Audi driven by the defendant.”

She said Mr Boulter, 65, suffered bruising and swelling, Susan, 52, had back pain while Natasha had a sore knee.

Paul Tipple, mitigating, said since the incident on October 6, Francis, a selfemployed gas technician who had no previous convictions, had suffered a mental breakdown and been treated for clinical depression.

He said: “The other car was in the wrong lane and made the wrong decision to come into McDonald’s.

“The defendant had to swerve out of the way.

“He accepts he was wound up by having been cut up. He maintains the other people in the car were making abusive gestures and he followed them to the car park.”

“This incident has had a devastating impact on him.

He is not able to work.

“His mum and dad said this is just completely out of character for him. He deeply regrets the incident.”

Dr Ilona Perkins-Van Mil, chairman of the bench, told Francis to pay fines, compensation and costs totalling £455.