Wanton and furious driving is an old offence - predating the invention of the internal combustion engine - contained in Section 35 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861.

The prosecution must prove that the defendant drove dangerously (careless driving is insufficient) and caused some injury to another person.

The offence is not limited to a road or other public place and is therefore useful for prosecuting cases where the bad driving occurred off-road.

The offence can be tried either in the magistrates' court or in the Crown Court. At the Crown Court it carries a maximum sentence of 2 years' imprisonment.

Penalty points and discretionary disqualification are now available to courts