A motorist who knocked out a man's teeth with a wheelbrace during a road rage attack has been jailed for four years and branded a coward.

Victim Bob Young, 45, a cafe owner from Brighton, lost four teeth in the unprovoked assault, needed five stitches to a lip wound and underwent an operation. His dental bills have so far totalled £8,500, which are being paid for by his medical insurance.

Jason Payne, 30, of St John's Crescent, Broadbridge Heath, near Horsham, admitted a charge of causing grievous bodily harm but denied wounding with intent. He was, however, found guilty by a jury at Lewes Crown Court after a two-day trial.

After the hearing, Mr Young, who lives at Withdean, Brighton, said: "I think the sentence is fair. He deserved what he got. He could have killed me.

"I could have handled a normal punch-up but but this was a cowardly and disgraceful act. I was smashed in the face for no reason. I did nothing to provoke him.

"If he had hit me on the head with the wheelbrace I would be dead. It was agony. I did nothing to defend myself. I was just trying to save my teeth.

"If you go around with iron bars in cars and use them, you have got to pay the price. I hope he will go to prison and learn a lesson."

Mr Young, who still needs further medical treatment on his mouth, said he was determined to get over his ordeal.

The court heard the attack took place at the roadside on the A281, between Poynings and Henfield, north of Brighton, after Payne crashed into the back of Mr Young's BMW in August last year.

Payne, who was with his wife Mandy and two young children, was driving home in his Rover after a family day out at a model aircraft show in Hastings. His car was travelling closely behind his victim's, who was with his partner Sarah Hills.

As Mr Young braked before a sharp bend, Payne drove into the back of his vehicle.

The court heard when both men got out to inspect the damage, the defendant grabbed the wheelbrace from his car and hit Mr Young in the face and then sped off.

During the trial, Payne said he picked up the metal brace for his own protection because he had been the victim of two road rage attacks in the previous five years and he denied intending to use it as a weapon.

He said that while he was talking to Mr Young, one of his daughters complained she had hurt her neck in the impact and he was upset.

He said: "I swung my arm up. It was just the fact my daughter was hurt. I didn't think anything. I was definitely not aiming at him. I didn't know what I was thinking or doing. I didn't think about hitting him. It just happened."

He said afterwards that he was shocked by his actions. He said: "I looked at him and thought, 'what have I done?'"

Payne said he immediately drove away because he wanted to take his daughter to hospital. However, he and his wife changed their minds and went home. She did not have any medical treatment.

During cross-examination, Payne denied chasing Mr Young as they drove because he was angry he had been overtaken by the BMW.

Judge Simon Coltart told the defendant it was a serious offence. He said: "For whatever reason, you lost your temper and lashed out with the wheelbrace and hit Mr Young full in the face causing terrible damage, from which he is still suffering.

"That sort of behaviour from motorists just cannot be tolerated and must result in a lengthy prison sentence."