A DRIVER went berserk and pushed a cyclist up against a hedge following a minor crash.

The cyclist, a 28-year-old Billericay woman, was in St Andrew’s Place, Shenfield, when her bike and a dark-coloured estate car crashed during the rush hour on Friday morning (March 19).

The woman was thrown to the ground in the crash, but instead of checking if she was OK the driver stood over her and started hurling abuse at the woman before driving off.

Shocked passers-by helped the woman up and she carried on her journey, but a few minutes later the same man stepped out in front of her bike in Priest’s Lane and forced her to stop.

He grabbed the bike and threw it to the ground while continuing his bad-mouthed abuse and forced her up against a hedge. The man was described as around 6ft tall, in his fifties, with a slim build, short grey hair and a small scar on the left side of his face.

He was wearing a dark waist-length anorak, plain dark T-shirt and blue jeans at the time.

Police officers have asked for any witnesses to come forward and believe a number of motorists may have seen the abuse take place as they made their way to work or schools.

PC Chris Corlett said: “We want to hear from anyone who can help us identify the car or driver.

“I would like to speak to him in connection with failing to stop, failing to report, common assault and public order offences.”

Any witnesses can call PC Corlett, at Brentwood police, on 0300 3334444.