A man has been fined and ordered to undergo 120 hours of unpaid work after he spat on a woman during road rage outburst in Hersham.

Thomas Neale, 47, pleaded guilty at Guildford Magistrates' Court on Monday to one charge of assault and one charge of using threatening or abusive words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress after the conflict on December 1 last year.

The victim was driving her Ford S-Max in Molesey Road with her 15-year-old daughter when Mr Neale's black Ford Mondeo attempted to overtake her.

When charged police said there had been a minor crash between the two cars as Neale tried to move past the car the woman in her 40's was driving, but when in court Neale denied that there had been any kind of crash.

She had been pulled to the side of the road by Neale where he shouted abuse at her and "spat in her mouth and on her t-shirt" as her daughter watched, according to officers from Surrey Police.

Both cars had been driving in Hersham, just off the A244, at about 8.15pm.

Investigating Officer Katie Hanlon said: “This is a nasty incident that caused the victim and her young daughter a great deal of emotional distress.

“Neale has shown little respect for the victim and we hope the punishment will allow Neale to reconsider the consequence of his behaviour.

“Surrey Police take all allegations of abuse seriously and we strongly advise anyone who has experienced a similar crime to report this to us by calling 101.”

Neale of The Close in Sutton, was ordered to undergo a community order, consisting of 120 hours of unpaid work to be taken within 12 months.

He was also ordered to pay compensation of £50, a surcharge of £60 and costs of £150 to the Crown Prosecution Service.

Neale was also fined £120.