A teacher has been banned from driving after ramming into the back of her partner’s vehicle when she spotted him driving past with another woman.

Ellen O’Reilly did a U-turn and weaved in and out of traffic to catch the pair, and when she confronted them, the woman tried to hide in the passenger footwell.

Maidstone Magistrates’ Court heard disputed versions of whether the couple were still in a relationship at the time of the incident.

O’Reilly was in her Mercedes 220 in Mill Way, Sittingbourne, when she saw the pair going in the opposite direction.

The 33-year-old immediately turned her vehicle around and drove at speed, sometimes on the wrong side of the road, before smashing into the back of his black Mercedes.

When she confronted them, he got out of the car and other motorists called the emergency services. This is when the woman hid in the footwell.

O'Reilly was later charged with dangerous driving and appeared in court on March 3 for sentencing.

Charlotte Frost, prosecuting, told Deputy District Judge Lisa Towell the incident happened on April 12 last year.

She said: “Miss O’Reilly and her partner had recently split up.

“She saw her ex-partner with a female in the front seat [of his car] and she did a U-turn and then drove at speed to catch up with them.

“She drove on the wrong side of the road past other cars and into oncoming traffic, back to the kerb and back out again at speed and then drove straight into the back of him.

“She ran to her partner’s car looking for someone [the woman]. Her partner got out of his car, but the public intervened and an ambulance was called. There were no injuries.

“Substantial damage was caused to both vehicles.

“She has an unblemished record, she’s of previous good character, but they were highly-dangerous manoeuvres. She drove past other traffic ignoring the rules of the road.”

Richard Graham, defending, said his client had been in a relationship with the victim for 11 years and they had two children, but claimed they were still together when the incident happened.

He added: “She accepts full responsibility, but she had not split up with him and their relationship was ongoing.

“Her partner had an affair and had told her the affair was over and they were going to move forward with their family, but that was not true.

“She wanted to believe it as they have two children and a house, but it was the uncertainty of not knowing, she was feeling she was going mad.

“They have now gone their separate ways and only have contact for childcare and she’s a teacher and put herself through uni [to become a teacher] and is a busy working mum.”

Judge Towell told O’Reilly she had listened to everything that had been said and noted she had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

However, she told her: “You intentionally drove in a dangerous manner and you saw red and targeted this particular individual and there was a collision which caused significant damage.

“There was a risk caused to others because of your lack of regard for the rules of the road.

“I understand this was an isolated incident and out of character and that you have genuine remorse and it’s disappointing to see you here.

“I have been persuaded to sentence you to custody, as it’s justified, so I will jail you for 24 weeks, but that term will be suspended for 12 months.”

The judge also told O’Reilly she would have to attend 10 rehabilitation sessions and complete a mental health treatment programme for 12 sessions.

She was also banned from driving for 12 months and will have to take an extended retest if she wants to drive again.

O’Reilly was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £154 and £85 court costs. She will pay what she owes the court at a rate of £20 a month.