A single mum was left petrified after a motorist threatened her in a row over parking outside her home.

Anna-Marie O’Brien says she has been plagued by inconsiderate and rowdy parents waiting to collect their children from Tymberwood Academy in Gravesend.

Some ignore double yellow lines at the back of the primary school and outside her garage, while others congregate in an alleyway and throw cigarette butts and drink cans into her back garden.

But it was the row with the “intimidating and threatening” motorist who was blocking her garage that led to police involvement.

The man was later arrested and said to have apologised, telling officers he was “late for school” that day.

However, Miss O’Brien said police were slow to react to her call, and had done little since to solve the problems.

She also said calls to the school in Cerne Road and her housing officer at Gravesham council have had little success.

Police said that the incident was dealt with Miss O’Brien’s full support but officers would be contacting her to discuss her concerns.

Trouble flared when the 40-year-old returned home at about 8.40am from dropping her autistic son at his school.

She asked a driver to reverse his car so she could access her parking space. However, she said she was met with a torrent of abuse before being threatened.

“He got out of his car and said: ‘I have had enough of you moaning about parking’.

“The thing is, I had never spoken to him before in my life. I had spoken to his wife when she was parked on glass and had warned her.

“I was still in my car. I was petrified. He was trying the handles of my car but luckily it locks from the inside.

“He was saying: ‘Get out the car’ and I said I was going to call the police. The abuse continued and he said: ‘I know where you live. I’ll do your windows and I’ll do your car.’ His eyes were really wild.

“My window was wound down from when I asked him to move his car and he was leaning in.”

Miss O’Brien, who is training to be a counsellor, phoned the police once safely home, and told they would be with her within an hour.

However, she said it was not until 3pm that she was contacted and told that officers would not be able to see her until the following day when they took her statement, and spoke to the motorist who had again parked up behind Miss O’Brien’s home.

“Someone had tried to get into my car and attack me and I’m appalled they took a day to get here,” she said.

“He was about 16 stone and 6ft 3in. He was intimidating and threatening. I didn’t get any sleep that night and had to get sleeping tablets.

“When the police did arrest him he told them he knew what he did was wrong but he was late for school.”

The man was not charged with any offence but Miss O’Brien said he has continued to park by her garage, ignoring the road restrictions.

Each party signed what is known as a community resolution record. These are used in regards to minor offences or anti-social behaviour incidents and involve informal agreement between the those involved, as opposed to progression through the criminal justice process.

However, Miss O’Brien said: “The matter hasn’t been resolved because he is still parking there.”

Police said officers must take a range of considerations into account when deciding if someone is eligible for a community resolution, including previous character, admission of guilt and remorse shown, as well as having a victim’s full support.

A spokesman added: “The offender in this case was deemed eligible and this had the support of the victim.

“During the original call from the victim it was established that she was in no immediate danger. It was therefore explained that an officer would aim to visit her as soon as possible.

“Kent Police will be contacting the victim to discuss her concerns.”

Cllr Colin Caller (Lab), pictured, who represents Gravesham East at Kent County Council, has now asked that some of the community funding he receives for his political role be spent on signage in the area informing people they are parking on private property.

Cllr Caller said that parking problems outside Tymberwood Academy had been on-going, but sadly were not unique to that one school.

“Unfortunately parents now are required to transport their children to school because they simply get awarded school places too far away from the locality in which they live.

“That is one of those things we will have to try to tackle, but all I would like to say to parents dropping off and collecting their children from school is just to show some consideration.”