SINGAPORE - He had driven recklessly, swerved and cut into the path of a female motorist abruptly without signalling, almost causing a collision. At one point, he even got out of his vehicle and approached the female motorist in a threatening manner.

For his rash act which endangered life, 25-year-old student Quek Zhen Hao, was disqualified from driving for two years and fined $5,400 on Thursday.

Quek, who was not represented, told the court that he was remorseful and has since learnt to control himself. He pleaded with the judge to "reconsider the disqualification because I have to work for my father". Quek explained that he needs to help his father in delivery as his father is old and suffers from eye and brain problems.

But District Judge Soh Tze Bian dismissed his mitigation plea as he did not see how Quek's father can be a mitigating factor for an offence that Quek has committed.

On Jan 28 this year, Quek had gotten out of his Honda Civic at a junction and approached Ms Goh Siok Ling with the intention of causing her alarm and distress. He later tailgated her and swerved his vehicle in front of her, cutting into her path three times, without signalling, forcing her to brake hard to avoid a collision on Petir Road and Dairy Farm Road. Quek was later branded as a "public enemy" after videos of him driving recklessly appeared online.

His father told reporters outside the court after the sentence: "We are not happy because the other party was not blamed. It's unfair!" Quek could have been jailed up to one year for driving for driving rashlessly to endanger life.