A PONTYPOOL woman who lost her job as a carer after crashing into another car following a road rage incident has avoided an immediate prison sentence.

Caroline Hamer, aged 37, of Sunnybank Road, had previously pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving after the incident on the A4042 in Cwmbran in June, 2015.

A jury, however, found the former carer guilty of causing the crash after aggressively chasing another driver, John Gooding, in her Mercedes and cutting in front of him before braking sharply.

Cardiff Crown Court heard the pair had met just minutes previously on a narrow bridge at Chapel Lane, where there had been a stand-off over who could pass over the bridge first.

Defending, Sarah Waters, said although the jury had unanimously convicted her client of the crime, it was not known if that was for tailgating alone.

“Obviously, this defendant has no plea in mitigation,” she said. “[But] we don’t know what basis the jury have convicted this defendant.

“In view of the fact she’s lost her job, her ability to drive and the period of disqualification is significant to her.”

Summing up, Judge Jonathan Furness said while he was “certain” that Hamer was verbally abused on the bridge, he questioned why she then decided to turn her car around to catch up with Mr Gooding.

“I don’t know why you did that,” he queried. “It may be connected to the matters set out in your pre-sentence report, which I won’t go into.

“It’s plain that there’s evidence that you were travelling at 70mph down a dual carriageway at a distance that was less than a metre from the car in front of you.

“It caused the gentleman in front of you to hang back.”

Judge Furness added he was “conscious” that Hamer, who cried throughout the sentencing, had lost her employment as a result of the conviction.

He handed down a sentence of three months, which will be suspended for a year. Hamer will be disqualified from driving for a year and will have to take an extended driving test thereafter.

Judge Furness also ordered Hamer to undergo a rehabilitation activity requirement for 25 days and to pay a victim surcharge of £80 and £250 in costs