A woman who was being harassed by her former boyfriend told a court: "I thought I was going to die."

Susan Spencer, who had broken up with David John Brotherton, told the court how he reversed his vehicle towards her after an altercation in a pub.

David John Brotherton, 44, of Throstle Nest Close, Otley, had denied a charge of harassment but was found guilty. He was fined £500 and ordered to pay £140 costs.

He was found not guilty of careless driving, a charge relating to the same incident on September 6 last year.

Pudsey Magistrates heard that Brotherton - known as John - had arrived at the Three Horseshoes pub in Otley after 10.30pm on the Saturday night with two female friends.

In the same pub was Susan Spencer, with whom he had previously had a relationship, her sister, Michelle Hehir, her brother, Anthony Hehir, and his girlfriend, Susan Harrower.

An argument erupted involving Brotherton and Susan Spencer and Michelle Hehir and he was asked to leave by the landlord. The group of four then left the pub shortly afterwards by another exit and, after trying to get a taxi, started to walk home.

The group were starting to walk up Billams Hill when they saw Brotherton's silver Land Rover Discovery vehicle drive past.

Moments later, Brotherton appeared on foot, walking back down the hill towards them.

Susan Harrower said: "We were quite upset that he had come back to haunt us. He was trying to get my partner Anthony away from the rest of us. From the impression I had, he was going to hurt him."

Brotherton told the court that he had wanted to ask Mr Hehir to tell his sister to leave him alone. There was further verbal confrontation and Brother-ton walked back to his vehicle. Events culminated in Brotherton driving his vehicle alongside Susan Spencer and Susan Harrower and lowering his electric window for further confrontation.

Miss Harrower said: "We tried to run around the back of vehicle but as we did, the reverse lights came on and we couldn't get round."

The court heard that Miss Harrower had kicked the vehicle, for which Brotherton showed magistrates a repair bill of more than £400.

Miss Harrower said: "When we couldn't go in front or behind, I felt really angry. I was hysterical, I thought I was going to die."

Brotherton denied mounting the pavement with his vehicle or reversing it.

The court heard that a three year affair between Brotherton and Susan Spencer had ended acrimoniously and the bitter repercussions had begun to involve other family members. But Brotherton denied being violent.

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