Jealous partner sped his BMW at man he believed was his ex-girlfriend’s new partner
Fuming thug's target had to dive over a garden wall to avoid be struck down at high speed
A JEALOUS ex-boyfriend has been found guilty of dangerous driving after speeding his BMW at a man he thought was his ex's new partner.
Jason Howman mounted the kerb as he "accelerated and drove hard" at Stephen Smith.
His target had to dive over a garden wall to avoid being struck down in a potentially fatal collision.
Mr Smith, a friend of Howman's estranged partner Lauren Lake, was on his way to pick up his children from school when the 43-year-old drove at him.
Claire Larton, prosecuting, told Preston Crown Court: "It would seem the defendant thought they were in a relationship.
"Mr Smith would say not.
"In any event you may feel this is not important in what took place."
Howman, of Fleetwood, Lancs, said he knew Mr Smith was a single dad and claimed his ex Lauren had said he was a "nice guy".
He told the court Mr Smith had wanted to talk to him so he could tell him he was going to "get together" with Ms Lake.
At the opening of the trial at Preston Crown Court, Ms Larton said: "Mr Smith was at the junction in a residential area, at a zebra crossing.
"He had visited the post office and was continuing his journey on foot to pick up his children from school as they had a hospital appointment.
"As he walked he heard, then saw, a silver BMW. The driver was this defendant. He was waving, gesticulating and shouting 'Steve'.
"He stopped and spoke to Mr Smith."
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She said a conversation took place at around 1.45pm, in which he talked about their marriage breakdown, mortgage and custody arrangements.
She added: "You might not be surprised to hear that he said 'It's nothing to do with me, mate' and thought that was the end of the matter.
"The defendant became more and more irate and agitated, swearing, shaking and visibly angry.
"He asked if Mr Smith had slept with Lauren.
"Mr Smith was concerned because her child was in the back of his car while this argument was taking place. Because of his concerns Mr Smith went to walk away.
"The defendant then drove his vehicle dangerously. He turned his vehicle around in the road so he was facing the way Mr Smith was walking. He then allowed two men who worked at Evans Halshaw to cross the road.
"He then accelerated hard and drove directly at Mr Smith.
"He mounted the pavement and Mr Smith, to avoid being hit, jumped over a garden wall and into the garden of a property nearby.
"Once he jumped over the wall the defendant drove off still at speed along Colwyn Avenue, having driven for some distance along the pavement."
However, Howman denied driving at him in a police interview and claimed Mr Smith was "trying to be the big man".
Giving evidence, Howman described two incidents in the lead up to the alleged offence in which he had a dispute with his daughter's mother about meeting Mr Smith, first at a Halloween party and secondly at Christmas.
He said his daughter lived with him for four days of the week.
He said: "My attitude is fairly simple - if she had been with him a long time, it's solid and stable then fine, but when you first meet someone it's not right she should have one bloke in then another bloke in."
His defence lawyer asked: "Was that the reason you wanted to speak to him?"
He replied: "Yes and it was her that told me to speak to him."
He said he had pulled over in his BMW to take a phone call - not to approach Mr Smith - but coincidentally Mr Smith, within 10 seconds, came "walking towards me in the car."
He told the jury he was concerned as he had heard Mr Smith used cannabis and added: "He didn't want to answer the questions I put to him."
But a jury rejected Howman's story and found him guilty of dangerous driving today.
Lauren Lake, 28, spoke out to say she is relieved with the verdict.
She said: "He has got his comeuppances and I am glad."
Ms Lake was with Mr Howman for four years and described him as "dangerous' and possessive".
The couple have a daughter, who was in Mr Howman's BMW when he drove it at Mr Smith.
Ms Lake, who now has full custody of their daughter, said: "At the time, she would have been three years old.
"I was absolutely blazing. I was livid. He is not a stable person, very angry, very aggressive."
Howman, of Blackpool, Lancs., will be sentenced in August.