A ENRAGED driver who got out of his car and punched another motorist in the head after he claims he was cut off in a fast-food restaurant drive-through has been fined.
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Brett McKean, 41, of Russell Street, Dennington, pleaded guilty in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court to recklessly causing injury.
Magistrate Cynthia Toose said it was terrible offending and McKean's response to the situation had been completely disproportionate.
She imposed a conviction and $1200 fine after hearing McKean had been voluntarily attending counselling and a men's behaviour change program.
The magistrate warned McKean that if he came back to court for offences involving violence he risked serving a term in jail.
"There needs to be a clear message to yourself and others in the community that this sort of behaviour will not be tolerated," she said.
Police said that about noon on January 1 McKean was in the line-up at a McDonald's drive through service when he claimed another car pushed in.
That made McKean extremely angry, he got out of his car and had a heated argument with a woman passenger in the other car.
McKean then approached the driver's side of that vehicle, leaned in and punched the male driver to the right side of his face while screaming at him.
The victim armed himself with a walking stick but a woman and the restaurant manager stepped in to defuse the situation.
Footage of the incident was provided by a witness.
When interviewed, McKean admitted he became angry but claimed the victim and his passenger were drug users.