A cyclist who launched a terrifying road rage attack with a large kitchen knife in Chippenham has been jailed for a year.

James Howells, of no fixed abode, pulled the weapon with a nine-inch blade from his trousers and slashed it at a van’s passenger, nearly cutting his throat.

And after hearing how the 24-year-old had more than a dozen previous convictions for violence and was back in prison for breaching an early release licence a judge jailed him.

Claire Marlow, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court on Friday how a work van with three men in turned into Woodlands Road, Chippenham, at about 2.30pm.

She said two cyclists were coming the other way and Howells, who was on one of them, started shouting at the driver saying he was on the wrong side of the road.

“The people in the van said they were not on the wrong side of the road while the man on the bicycle, Mr Howells, saying that they were,” she said.

As he was standing by the side of the van the man in the passenger seat saw him produce a knife from his jeans pocket.

“He leant into the open window and tried to slash him with it. The passenger moved back and said he was touched by the knife, but it made no mark.”

She said Howells was heard to say ‘Have this in your throat’ as he lashed out with the nine inch bladed kitchen knife.

He also told them in a threatening nature that he knew people in a nearby house who would come out to help him.

When he was questioned by the police he said he was inside a house on Woodlands Road at the time of the offence and had no knowledge of it.

Howells pleaded guilty to a charge of affray and possessing a bladed article.

Alex Daymond, defending, said his client had been returned to custody for breaching his early release licence and was not due for release until June 2.

“This defendant has a terrible history. In the main his offending has been due to the excessive use of drink and drugs.”

He said he was clearly intoxicated at the time of the offence and past attempts at detoxification had failed.

Since he had been in custody on remand he said he had made great steps and was keen to get his life back on track when he is released.

Jailing him Judge Charles Wade said: “You have pleaded guilty to this affray and possessing this bladed article.

“This knife that you were carrying with you apparently because you felt you might need it should you have any trouble.

“That seems to be the sum of it as in your basis of plea you had threats made to you by other people and would use it if you were threatened.

“That I have to say is a fairly serious matter if you are prepared to carry a kitchen knife around with you and use it you are threatened.

“I accept that you were brandishing this knife intending to intimidate this man because of what had happened and the altercation with the driver of the van and you accept you were drunk.”