A VIOLENT wheel clamper who was involved in two attacks on motorists is today beginning a jail sentence totalling three years and nine months.

Christopher Rose was the man behind the car-clamping firm National Parking Control, which operated in Huddersfield.

He fractured a schoolteacher's skull with a torch during a road- rage incident in December 2001.

And three months later he used a baton in an attack on a man whose girlfriend's car had been clamped in Huddersfield.

Bradford Crown Court heard how schoolteacher Darren Simpson was hit on the side of the head after 33-year-old Rose cut in front of him on a roundabout at Manchester Road, Bradford.

Although he later went to hospital because he felt unwell he was able to discharge himself the next day.

In March 2002, motor trader Stephen Ward and his girlfriend returned from a meal in Huddersfield to find their car, which had been parked on waste ground off St John's Road, had been clamped and taken away.

Prosecutor David McGonigal said £286 was eventually paid for the return of the car, but Mr Ward was unhappy about the situation.

Another man who was with Rose that night made a `V' sign towards him and, as Mr Ward walked towards the nearby police station, both men got in a car which reversed towards him.

Mr McGonigal described how the men got out shouting aggressively and attacked Mr Ward.

Mr McGonigal said: "First the accused kicked Mr Ward in the stomach.

"Mr Ward was then hit from behind by the other man and the accused then struck Mr Ward with the baton towards the elbow, causing an injury."

Mr Ward suffered various injuries to his head, body and arms in the attack.

The court heard that the 44-year-old died later that year but his death was not related to the injuries he sustained.

Rose, of Oakwood Close, Leeds, but formerly of Martin Bank Road, Almondbury, pleaded guilty last year to an offence of causing Mr Simpson grievous bodily harm. Yesterday he also admitted an assault charge relating to the late Mr Ward.

His case had been delayed partly because Rose absconded when he was due to stand trial back in October 2002. The court heard he had also tried to escape from two police officers after he was taken to a hospital in Leeds for treatment to a suspected broken leg.

Rose, who had previous convictions for dishonesty offences, violence and driving while disqualified, also pleaded guilty to further charges of driving while banned, failing to surrender to court and escaping from lawful custody.

In addition to jailing him Recorder Peter Kelson QC also took Rose up on his offer to pay Mr Simpson £1,000 compensation out of his savings of £2,500.

Barrister Jason McAdam, for Rose, conceded that a prison sentence was inevitable, but he urged the judge to keep it below the four-year mark.

He suggested that Rose had matured during the nine months he had been in custody and had shown some insight into his offending.

Mr McAdam also highlighted the fact that Rose had in the past made a charitable donation to an elderly couple who had been victims of crime and had also been awarded a police commendation for assisting an officer who was being attacked.

Recorder Kelson accepted that Rose may have a useful and good side, but added: "The problem this court has is that it has to deal with you for your other side. You plainly have a short fuse and when your temper comes you don't seem too reluctant to resort to violence."

He said aspects of a pre-sentence report on Rose were "troubling" and it appeared that when he found himself in a corner he would try to use force to extricate himself.

He said mercifully in the road-rage attack on Mr Simpson the injuries were not as grave as they might have been and he described his behaviour towards Mr Ward as "disgraceful".

"You lost your temper with an unsurprisingly irate customer and he sustained not insubstantial injuries," added Recorder Kelson.

He ordered Rose to serve consecutive sentences of 18 months each for the two attacks and added a further six months and three months, respectively for the breach of his bail and driving while disqualified.

He was also banned from driving again for a year.