Ryan Frolich's road rage drove bad behaviour that landed him in a Sault Ste Marie courtroom Thursday.
He pleaded guilty to assault with a weapon in connection with an incident that occurred on McNabb Street just before noon on a summer day.
Behind the wheel of a company work vehicle, Frolich and another motorist were eastbound on St. George's Avenue.
It was 11:45 a.m. on July 13, Ontario Court Justice Andrew Buttazzoni heard.
The victim believed Frolich was following closely behind him and stopped in the middle of the road on McNabb Street to question why he was doing this.
Wielding a metal level above his head, Frolich approached the motorist, assistant Crown attorney Stuart Woods told the court.
The 41-year-old accused said he “was going to bash in his head."
A witness yelled at Frolich, telling him to get back in his vehicle, and he complied.
The Crown and defence lawyer Bruce Willson jointly recommended a conditional discharge with 12 months probation.
Frolich has a brief, one-page record, with multiple convictions, including assault, in 2006, Woods said.
His guilty plea has saved court time, and the accused is taking responsibility for his action, the prosecutor told the court.
Willson called the contact behind his client and the victim "very brief."
Frolich had "the common sense to get back in his vehicle and drive off," he told the judge.
Buttazzoni agreed with the lawyers' proposed sentence, citing the early pleas and gap in the accused's record.
It was lucky the victim didn't get out of his vehicle, he said. Who knows what would have happened if he had?
The judge granted Frolich the discharge and placed him on a 12-month probation order.
During that time, he must take in any recommended counselling, which may include anger management, and can't have any contact with the victim.
He also was ordered to provide DNA sample for the national database.
Buttazzoni gave him three months to pay the victim surcharge.