A TAXI driver who torched his former partner's car after driving after her dangerously has been jailed for two years and eight months.

Daniel Fear had already barbecued the woman's clothes and smashed up her laptop when he saw her car passing him in the dead of night.

Despite having a fare in the back of his cab the 28-year-old gave chase, tailgating her from Westbury to Warminster at high speed.

When he managed to get in front and force her to stop he assaulted her and drove into his passenger, who had got out to calm him, rolling him off the bonnet of the taxi.

Colin Meeke, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court how all of the offences took place over three weeks in June.

He said it started at the beginning of the month when Fear, of Broadway, Warminster, sent his ex text photographs of her clothes being burnt and her laptop being smashed.

In the following days he was warned by the police to leave her alone, after hammering on the door of the woman's family.

In the early hours of June 9 Mr Meeke said she was driving home from a friend's house when she passed Fear's Honda Accord close to Westbury police station.

Realising it was following her, she sped up to try and get away as he flashed his lights, getting closer and closer to her back bumper.

As he tailgated her she accelerated to 70mph as she tried to get away before he got in front and repeatedly braked hard.

After she first managed to avoid having to stop he forced her to pull over and rushed to the vehicle, grabbing her phone from her lap.

In doing so he assaulted her and when his fare, a mutual friend of the couple, tried to calm him Fear knocked him over with his car.

Just over two weeks later the woman received a call telling her that her car was on fire, writing off the VW Golf and damaging another car parked close to it.

"The defendant in fact telephoned the police to acknowledge that he had set the fire. He seemed, it appeared, almost proud of what he had done in the call he made to the police," Mr Meeke said.

Fear admitted three counts of arson, dangerous driving, criminal damage and two assaults.

Tony Bignall, defending, said that his client had spent three months inside on remand and he was now ashamed of what he had done.

During that time he said the woman had been sending him pictures of their child and writing that she hoped he would be able to see the baby soon.

Jailing him Judge Sir John Royce said "It is clear to me that you have a problem with relationships, particularly when they break down.

"This was a course of conduct, not just on one occasion but on three. I have read your letter written from prison which demonstrates remorse which I consider to be genuine."

As well as jailing him he also banned him from the road for 18 months and until he passes an extended test.