A FATHER-of-two has told a court how a “boy racer” pulled what appeared to be a gun out on him while his young children were in the car.Rodney Langfield, from Trimley, said he was left petrified and shaking after the alleged road rage incident.

A FATHER-of-two has told a court how a “boy racer” pulled what appeared to be a gun out on him while his young children were in the car.

Rodney Langfield, from Trimley, said he was left petrified and shaking after the alleged road rage incident.

He was speaking on the first day in the trial of 21-year-old Stephen Groom, who has denied possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

Giving evidence at Ipswich Crown Court yesterday , Mr Langfield said he was returning home from Galaxy Models, in Foxhall Road, Ipswich, on May 6 when the alleged incident happened.

A brightly-coloured car, with a spoiler, roaring exhaust and loud music booming, pulled up behind his people carrier at the traffic lights on the junction between Derby Road and Felixstowe Road, he said.

When he turned on to Felixstowe Road, Mr Langfield said he got the impression the car wanted to pass his vehicle, which had his 14-year-old son as a passenger and 13-year-old daughter sitting behind him.

He told the court how the car was up close behind him so he slowed down, imagining the car would overtake.

However, at the next set of traffic lights the car was still behind him so when they turned green he pulled away quicker, as he said he wanted to put some distance between them both. But the car remained close to him, making him feel nervous, Mr Langfield said.

At the next set of traffic lights, at the junction with Bixley Road, Mr Langfield said he pulled into the left hand lane and the car pulled up in the lane alongside him.

He said the driver turned to him and asked through his open window: “You think you're f***ing clever, do you?”

Mr Langfield told the court that he replied by saying: “Yes I think I am actually.” At that point the driver said “what do you think of this then?” and had reached down and produced what appeared to be a handgun and pointed at his face, Mr Langfield said.

“All I can remember is that it looked real, like a metal pistol handgun,” he said. “I was really expecting the gun to go off. I basically thought my time was up.”

He said his daughter had begun to cry but a “split second” later the driver put the gun down and “shot off” over the bridge and along Bucklesham Road.

Mr Langfield followed him and his children shouted out the registration number of the car, which he wrote on his hand, the court heard. He then went to the police station and reported the alleged incident.

Groom was later arrested at his home in Ramsgate Drive, Ipswich, said John Kellett, prosecuting.

He admitted having been in an argument with someone and, after he was asked if he possessed any weapons, officers recovered two items from under a drawer in his bed.

Groom was taken to the police station and questioned before being charged.

Cross-examining, Steven Dyble, defending, put it to Mr Langfield that he had produced a knife from his car, opened the door and put his foot on the tarmac “giving the impression that you were getting out of your car”.

Mr Langfield denied the suggestion.

The trial continues today .