A WOMAN drove her car at her abusive ex-partner after an argument, a court heard.

Callie Rhodes, 27, admitted attempting to cause grievous bodily harm by wanton or furious driving.

Rhodes, from Barlby, had been in a tempestuous and occasionally abusive relationship prior to the incident, but the relationship was now over, York Crown Court heard.

Heather Gilmore, prosecuting, told the court the ex-partner was not harmed and refused to give a statement to police, instead requesting advice be given to Rhodes.

When police visited her she said “I attempted to run him over”, and “I’ll hurt him like he hurt me”.

Neil Cutte, for Rhodes, said she accepted a disqualification must be made, but told the court the lives of Rhodes’ family would be made excessively difficult with a lengthy driving ban, and could cost her a job, and cause difficulty for other family members who would have to drive her children to school.

Mr Cutte also said there was “much personal background mitigation in regards the relationship and history”, and Rhodes “would have been mortified afterwards if it had resulted in serious injury”.

Judge Andrew Stubbs QC said: “Anybody who uses a car as a weapon receives a prison sentence as it is just so serious nothing else is appropriate.

“I also have to consider whether locking you up, as this offence justifies, would have a significantly harmful impact on other people.

“I am satisfied that the difficulties caused to your children and those who would have to change their working patterns, in your case, that significant harm that would come to others if I was to lock you up immediately.

"It is a really fine balancing exercise - I have just come down in favour of being able to suspend the inevitable.”

He sentenced Rhodes to eight months in prison, suspended for a year, ordered her to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work, 25 days of rehabilitation requirement, and disqualified her from driving for six months, the shortest period he could allow.