A “BOY racer” could be jailed after he was found guilty of brandishing a handgun at a motorist following an argument.Stephen Groom, 21, asked motorist Rodney Langfield through his open window: “You think you're f***ing clever, do you?” when he pulled up alongside his people carrier in Ipswich on May 6.

By Danielle Nuttall

A “BOY racer” could be jailed after he was found guilty of brandishing a handgun at a motorist following an argument.

Stephen Groom, 21, asked motorist Rodney Langfield through his open window: “You think you're f***ing clever, do you?” when he pulled up alongside his people carrier in Ipswich on May 6.

When Mr Langfield replied: “Yes, I think I am actually”, Groom reached down and produced what appeared to be a handgun and pointed it at his face.

Groom, of Ramsgate Drive, Ipswich, denied possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

But a jury took just three hours yesterday to unanimously find him guilty of the charge.

Judge John Devaux told the defendant he was adjourning sentencing until a pre-sentence report had been carried out, but he warned him all options remained open.

After the guilty verdict was returned, it emerged Groom had a previous conviction for common assault outside a nightclub and had been previously cautioned for carrying an article with a blade in his car.

During the trial, the court heard that Mr Langfield was driving home when a brightly coloured car with a spoiler, roaring exhaust and loud music booming, pulled up behind his people carrier, which contained his young children, at the traffic lights on the junction between Derby Road and Felixstowe Road.

Groom then proceeded to “tailgate” Mr Langfield's vehicle before pulling up beside him at the junction of Bixley Road, it was alleged.

After a verbal altercation, Groom had pulled out what appeared to be a handgun, leading Mr Langfield to believe his “time was up”.

When the defendant drove off, Mr Langfield followed the vehicle and his children shouted out the registration number of the car, which he wrote on his hand. He then went to a police station to report the incident.

Groom disputed the account given, and told officers Mr Langfield had had what appeared to be a craft knife in his hand, which caused him to believe he would be attacked.

But John Kellett, prosecuting, said this was not the case and that Groom had deliberately made up his own account to deceive police.

Groom will be sentenced in the week beginning September 25.