A driver who knocked over her ex-partner's new woman has escaped immediate jail.
Katherine Thornborough was walking in Kingswood when she was struck from behind by a car, Bristol Crown Court heard. She didn't see who was driving but suspected it was Janet Lee - and police used CCTV to track down Lee's Vauxhall Corsa and confirm it was her.
Lee, 54, of Hanham Road in Kingswood, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm in January last year. She appeared for sentence today. (April 20, 2022).
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Judge Michael Longman handed her a 13 months prison sentence suspended for 18 months, with 120 hours' unpaid work. He also banned her from driving for four months, imposed a two-year restraining order banning contact with the complainant and ordered her to pay £425 costs.
The judge told her: "You drove up to her. You intended to scare her and insulted her.
"You drove so close that you knocked her over, causing her injuries. You pleaded guilty on the basis of recklessness rather than intent."
Meabh McGee, prosecuting, told the court Miss Thornborough was walking from the direction of Orchard Medical Centre, on MacDonald Walk, towards South Road. She said: "She was on a concrete area. She was struck from behind by a blue hatchback car, which drove away from the scene towards South Road. The impact caused her to fall on her side."
The court heard Miss Thornborough didn't see the driver but suspected it was Lee, who was her partner's ex. Miss Thornborough suffered injuries including bruising, a sore collar bone, pain to her right ankle.
Lee gave police a prepared statement in which she claimed it was Miss Thornborough who verbally abused her and approached her car. Lee stated that she feared for her safety, drove away and clipped Miss Thornborough with her wing mirror.
Miss Thornborough made an impact statement in which she said she felt the impact of the car and fell. She said she couldn't believe how someone could then drive off, adding how she was left shocked and injured.
Caitlin Evans, defending, said her client was "heartbroken" after a three-year relationship ended, which agitated her depression and anxiety. Miss Evans told the court: "She acted wholly out of character. Remorse has been expressed."
Miss Evans added that Lee, who works to support homeless people, was of previous good character and had held a clean driving licence for 36 years.
