A road rage driver who punched a woman in the face after she hooted the horn at him has been sentenced to a month in jail.

Joseph Cutajar, 38, from Msida, was about to drive on to the Birkirkara by-pass near Mater Dei Hospital without stopping at a yield sign and only halted when Ana Maria Vella sounded her horn, the court heard.

The incident happened on July 9 at 8pm on Dun Karm Road, Msida.

It appeared that Mr Cutajar did not like the fact she continued to drive along the road, which she in fact had every right to do, Magistrate Francesco Depasquale noted.

Mr Cutajar overtook her vehicle to position his car in front of hers and stopped, forcing her to stop too. At this point he got out of his car, walked over to her and punched her in the face for sounding the horn, the magistrate said.

The magistrate said it was amply proven that he had driven dangerously, carelessly and caused slight injury to Ms Vella. He found him guilty of all charges and sentenced him to a month in prison.