A COUNCIL official has narrowly escaped being jailed over a road rage incident in which she deliberately drove into another car.

A judge said he was concerned that Donna Clayson, 39, had used her Volvo as a weapon and could have caused death or serious injury.

But he agreed to suspend a three-month prison sentence, ordered the Folkestone-based Shepway council planning enforcement officer to do 100 hours’ unpaid work and banned her from driving for a year.

Maidstone Crown Court heard that Megan Catt overtook a van in her Peugeot 106 on the A20 near Roundhill Tunnel on August 9 last year.

“What then occurred was a case of road rage,” said prosecutor Mary Jacobson.

Clayson was driving behind her and seemed to be annoyed that Miss Catt was overtaking too slowly on the dual carriageway.

Clayson became aggressive and cut in front of the van and “undertook” Miss Catt, swerving all over the road as she did so.

“She drove alongside Miss Catt and was shouting across at her and making obscene gestures towards her,” said Miss Jacobson.

“She deliberately collided with the front passenger wing of Miss Catt’s car. The victim’s passenger took the Volvo’s registration number and reported the incident to the police.

It was discovered that the car belonged to Clayson’s estranged husband. He said the car was driven by his wife.

Miss Jacobson said Clayson accepted nobody else would have had access to the car, but denied any knowledge of such an incident.

She added her job often made her unpopular and it could have been a malicious allegation.

Clayson, of Rectory Lane, Lyminge, denied dangerous driving, but was convicted by a jury.

Charges of failing to report an accident and failing to stop were sent back to magistrates’ court.

Mr Recorder Simon Taylor, QC, told Clayson that his clear view was that she used her car as a weapon.

“If the driver had lost control there could have been serious injury, even death,” he said.

“It was not a momentary loss of temper on your part. Aggressive driving was involved. This potentially merits a custodial sentence.”

The offence, he said, should be marked by suspended sentence. Clayson was ordered to pay £925 costs.

Following the trial Shepway district council chief executive, Alistair Stewart said: “Donna Clayson is a dedicated and diligent employee and a valued member of staff.

“As a measure of the importance we place on holding on to good, well-qualified employees with the right attitude and approach, we will be arranging alternative ways for Donna to work so that she can retain her current position with us,” he added.