MOTORIST Craig Yates vented his "road rage" on another driver not realising he was an off-duty police sergeant, a court heard.

Yates (29), of Meadowcroft, Radcliffe, was so angry at what he believed was an improper change of lanes by the other driver, that he abused him, threatened him and challenged him to drive into a supermarket car park where it would be sorted out.

The off-duty police officer simply took the registration number of Yates' car and reported the incident at Whitefield Police Station, magistrates at Bury heard.

Yates admitted a charge of threatening and abusive behaviour likely to cause fear of provocation of violence.

He was fined £50 with £45 court costs and was told his "bullying" behaviour had been totally out of order.

Mr Mike Wallbank, prosecuting, said the incident occurred in the Water Street and Blackburn Street junction area of Radcliffe when the sergeant attempted to change lanes. The defendant gesticulated in a suggestive way and when the officer stopped at traffic signals, Yates got out of his vehicle and abused the officer, challenging him to "sort it out" there and then.

The officer moved off and stopped at other signals where Yates pulled alongside continuing to shout threats through the open window and challenged the officer to drive into the Asda car park. He also put his finger across the throat in a slashing manner.

The officer took Yates' number and drove to the police station to report what was described in court as a "road rage" incident.

Yates told the court he had never made any threats to kill the officer and he wondered whether the matter would have come to court had the other driver not been a police officer.

"I thought it would have blown over," he stated.

Yates added: "I'm not sure what was said in the heat of the moment but he was in the wrong lane when he did what he did but I would not let him in and I could see he did not like it.

"I admit I used abusive language but I'd been working 65 hours a week and was stressed and not in the mood for what he did."