A furious mum followed her lover to a pub for a row before racing away in her car, leaving her baby on the pavement.

The eight-month-old child was spotted by bar staff outside the Prince of Wales Pub in Chatham before being handed over to the father.

But a judge at Maidstone Crown Court heard that when she did place the baby in her Ford Focus - she drove dangerously without ensuring the baby was safely strapped in.

Despite admitting child cruelty, the 31 year-old walked away from court after receiving a two-year community order after her lawyer claimed it had been "a crime of passion".

Lisa Sharp, of Carpeaux Close, Chatham also pleaded guilty to driving dangerously and was banned from driving for two years.

Prosecutor Shannon Revel told how on January 8 last year, Sharp's then partner Ronnie Vine and a friend went to the pub in Railway Street in Chatham at 8.45 pm.

"After ordering drinks they were hanging around the fruit machines when this defendant is said to have stormed into the pub.

"She went over to Mr Vine and started shouting at him: "Get out...get out!" His response was that he would come out in a minute," the prosecutor said.

Sharp had driven to the pub and left her vehicle outside with the baby inside.

She told bar staff that Mr Vine shouldn't have been in the pub, claiming he had a "drink and drug" problem, and added that he shouldn't be served any more alcohol.

"The defendant then threatened to smash up the pub before going out to the car again. A member of the pub's staff then asked Mr Vine and his friend to leave which they did.

"Outside Mr Vine and Sharp had another argument next to her vehicle.

Mr Vine and his friend then walked off as Sharp got into the car and then made off at excess speed driving at Mr Vine while shouting.

"Initially the bar staff thought that was the end of the incident but then it was reported that Sharp had left her eight month old baby in a car seat outside the pub."

It was then that the child, covered in a blanket, was seen as Sharp stopped the Ford Focus outside the Nat West Bank building where the two men were.

Mr Vine then returned to the pub and collected the baby and returned to the car and placed the child inside as Sharp shouted "violent words" towards her partner about "running him over",

"She was then seen to drive dangerously back down the High Street and police were called.

"Initially the bar staff thought that was the end of the incident but then it was reported that Sharp had left her eight-month-old baby in a car seat outside the pub..."

The prosecutor said she then drove "dangerously" and officers arrived and saw the two pushing each other.

"As they approached they saw the baby in the front passenger seat and as Mr Vine walked off, followed by Sharp - again leaving the baby unattended in the car.

"It later became clear that the car seat with the baby had not been made secure, so the driving up and down the High Street had taken place with the baby in a car seat which wasn't secured, " she added.

Sharp was then arrested for child cruelty and dangerous driving - and she later pleaded guilty.

The prosecutor told how the child was removed from Sharp's care after the incident but a month later she bit a police officer, PC David Brett in an incident involving the child. She has since admitted the assault.

Ms Revel said there had been no long term psychological damage to the child - thanks to the prompt actions from the bar staff and then police.

Dwain Coward, defending, said it had been a "crime of passion" as Sharp had been going through a breakdown.

"She is now working at a petrol station in Hoo and is rebuilding after what she feels was a catastrophic stage of her life.

"It was rage against her partner. She took the child out of the car and placed it on the roadside because she knew what was going to happen with the car and she felt it wasn't the best place for the child."

The court heard that Sharp claimed she had been suffering from post natal depression but the judge added that there was no evidence in support of that claim.

"After placing the child on the ground, you got into the vehicle and drove off at high speed, swerving to avoid pedestrians. You were in a highly emotional state..."

Recorder Clive Broe told her that she had left the baby in the car when she went into the pub to confront her former partner and threatened to damage the pub.

"After placing the child on the ground, you got into the vehicle and drove off at high speed, swerving to avoid pedestrians. You were in a highly emotional state.

"I have given serious consideration to giving you a custodial sentence but I believe there is nothing to be gained by passing a sentence of imprisonment."

Sharp received a two-year community order and was ordered to perform 150 hours of unpaid work. She will also have to attend 25 days of rehabilitation activities and pay £200 in court costs.

After her two year driving ban is over, she will have to pass an extended driving test before she can have her licence returned.

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