TWO motorists were left fearing for their lives after a lunatic driver pointed a gun out of the window of his car at them on the M6 in Warrington.

Marcin Swiatek was driving erratically along the northbound carriageway at 6pm on April 17 last year when he encountered his two victims in a nearby vehicle.

The dad-of-two cut in front of the pair while they were driving along the M6 in Warrington, nearly causing a collision.

The victim behind the wheel of the vehicle behind beeped her horn at Swiatek in response to his dangerous driving.

Both parties begin making hand gestures at each other, before the defendant produced a hand gun from inside the car.

Driving alongside one other, Swiatek reached his arm out of the window of the car and pointed the imitation gun at the female driver in the adjacent car and the passenger.

Mr Wyn Jones, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court the defendant made hand gestures with the gun and did this three times.

The victims tried to get away from the vehicle while Swiatek continued to torment them, driving alongside and in front of the car before finally they escaped the confrontation somewhere near Preston.

Police arrested Swiatek on April 21 and a search of his home on Henry Street, Leigh, revealed the imitation gun, namely a BB gun which was used at the time of the incident.

The 39-year-old defendant, who runs his own ‘successful’ cleaning business in Leigh, faced one charge of possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear or harm and appeared before the courts on Friday for sentencing.

Mr Wyn Jones referred to victim personal statements, in which both individuals stated the ‘strong impact’ the incident has had on them psychologically.

“They have had to move to an address where CCTV is available,” he said. “They feared they would be killed.”

One of the victims now has trouble sleeping and has had to receive counselling after the traumatic event.

Swiatek, who is of Polish decent, has five previous convictions from 10 offences, including being in possession of a bladed article.

Defending, Mr Ross said: “This defendant accepts he finds himself in a serious position. He has shown some level of remorse.”

Concluding the sentencing, Recorder Miss Snowdon addressed the defendant, saying: “When you pointed that BB gun towards the direction of the car as they were travelling on the motorway it is particularly serious, the consequences for them.

“The significant and psychological impact for them. Anything could of happened as a consequence from the fear that you instilled in them and others travelling on the motorway.”

Miss Snowdon served the defendant a 21-month custodial sentence, suspended for two years.

He is required to carry out 25 rehabilitation days and 200 hours of unpaid work as well as to pay £300 compensation to each victim.