Ronald Francis Herron, 45, of Church Street, pleaded guilty in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court to driving in a dangerous manner and failing to stop after an accident.

Police said that on August 26 Herron drove east on Camperdown’s Little Manifold Street. As he turned into the street, he was travelling at 45km/h when the victim stepped on to the road. 

Herron swerved at the man, there was a collision, the man slid up the bonnet and smashed the windscreen before he fell to the road. Herron drove off.

The victim suffered soreness to his body, back and neck. Herron drove straight to the police station and reported what had happened.

He admitted to police he swerved at the victim, but said the man had earlier made a gun gesture and ran and jumped on his bonnet.

Herron said he and the victim knew each other, they had ongoing issues but he admitted his driving had been reckless.

Defence counsel Alex McCulloch said an ongoing dispute had lasted more than 10 years which had led to contested intervention orders. 

He said that Herron had been upset that the victim made a gun gesture and the victim had also abused his client’s wife and children on the same day as the collision.

Mr McCulloch said his client had made a split-second stupid decision but fortunately he was not driving quickly and the victim did not suffer serious injuries.

Magistrate John Lesser said Herron had used his vehicle to ram someone which was never acceptable.