£100 fine for driver who crushed woman's foot on A4

Rebecca Timmins had been due to stand trial charged with causing injury by dangerous driving after running down the female driver on the A4 near Beckhampton on October 18, 2019.

The 42-year-old denied the allegation but, after discussions between the lawyers, returned to Swindon Crown Court on Thursday to plead guilty to careless driving. The plea was accepted.

Prosecutor Susan Cavender said Timmins was on the A4 between Marlborough and Calne when she was overtaken by her victim, who was in a dark grey Ford Galaxy. The woman’s child was with her in the car.

The second woman braked suddenly, causing Timmins’ car to go into the back of the grey people carrier.

An argument ensued between the pair. The victim got out of her car to remonstrate with Timmins who, panicking, drove away from the scene – knocking the woman to the ground.

The victim’s foot and right knee were crushed. She also suffered a suspected broken coccyx and extensive bruising. 

Daren Samat, mitigating, said his client suffered from mental health issues including complex post-traumatic stress disorder. The case had been hanging over her head for two years. She was on employment and support allowance. 

Sentencing her, Judge Jason Taylor QC told Timmins: “Following a collision the driver of the other vehicle got out whilst you remained in your car. You then pulled away and your car struck the other driver and I sentence you on the basis pulling away in that manner was careless. 

“The other driver was injured and you bear partial responsibility for those injuries, which does take it into greater harm [on the sentencing guidelines]. 

“That said, it is lower culpability because of the background leading up to it and what I accept was the genuine state of panic and fear you were experiencing particularly as your young child was in the vehicle with you.” 

Timmins, of The Were, Calne, was fined £100, must pay £100 costs and her licence was endorsed with six penalty points.