A WREXHAM motorist who threatened to kill a cyclist after he 'saw red' has been handed a fine.

Lewis Ellis, of Chester Road, appeared at Wrexham Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

The 22-year-old admitted that on May 5 at Queensway in Wrexham he used threatening or abusive words or behaviour towards Philip Carter.

Rhian Jackson, prosecuting, told the court the complainant, an experienced cyclist, was half way between the Prince Charles Road and Whitegate Road Junctions when he was overtaken by a BMW driven by Ellis.

Mr Carter had the impression that while the defendant wasn't exceeding the speed limit, he was going too fast for the conditions - as he was between Mr Carter on one side and parked cars on the other.

The complainant felt Ellis had passed too close, and raised his hand to signal what he'd done, shouting "what was that about?"

A short distance down the road, as he passed the now stationary BMW, he told carter through his open window that he'd passed too close, ans cycled on.

But then the BMW overtook again and Ellis shouted at Mr Carter to pull over - before driving on and stopping the car, getting out and waiting for him.

Mr Carter didn't stop because by this point he feared being assaulted.

He cycled on and away from the defendant, but on Montgomery Road the BMW pulled up alongside him again and Ellis shouted "Pull over - I'll f****** kill you," as well as hurling insults.

When the complainant told Ellis the incident was being recorded on his GoPro camera, he drove off at speed.

Ms Jackson said the complainant was concerned he was going to be driven into and that Ellis intended to carry out his threat.

Euros Jones, defending, said: "He will say there was an element of provocation and that he passed leaving plenty of room.

"But there is no excuse for his actions - he saw red.

"Mr Ellis suffered two deaths in the family close to each other and the family business was struggling. He was also struggling with house payments and was at a very low point.

"He was hysterical and afterwards he burst into tears.

"That's very much behind him now and he's on the up."

Ellis was told he'd committed a "very foolish act," and was handed a fine of £120, as well as being ordered to pay £85 costs and a victim surcharge of £34.

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