A "highly emotional" hairdresser who drove into her ex-boyfriend's car after spotting him with another woman has escaped a prison sentence.

Bournemouth Crown Court heard how mum-of-one Diane Shirley had been involved in a road rage incident at the Cooper Dean roundabout.

The 47-year-old from Belvedere Road, Bournemouth, admitted dangerous driving and common assault.

Prosecutor Lucia Whittle-Martin told the court how Shirley had children and a pregnant friend in her car on the afternoon of August 10 last year.

After seeing Omar Toufik waiting at traffic lights with another woman, Shirley deliberately drove into the back of his stationary vehicle.

Miss Whittle-Martin said Shirley had followed the car from the Wessex Way into Bethia Close in the Springbourne area of Bournemouth where she slapped Mr Toufik, claiming she was acting in self-defence.

Shirley told police Mr Toufik had grabbed her hair and later broken her glasses.

Shirley also accepted slapping his new partner after she called her a prostitute in Spanish and hitting Mr Toufik's car again "in her haste to leave the area".

Defending, Susan Evans said her client was "wholly remorseful" for putting her passengers in danger.

"She will never do it again.

"This is something that is not going to be repeated.

"She was in a highly emotional state, exacerbated by the fact that she was suffering from depression at the time.

"No one was injured. The gentleman and lady concerned never made statements."

Miss Evans added: "Slapping the female was the result of some severe provocation and my client represents no danger to the public.

"She has no contact with her former partner and now has a new relationship. That man is in the public gallery."

Sentencing Shirley, Judge Roger Jarvis told her: "You have admitted very serious offences. When someone is overwhelmed by emotion, the potential for very serious consequences is obvious.

"Fortunately only minor damage was caused to the vehicle involved. The distress caused to the children in the car must have been obvious and the risk to your pregnant passenger is plain."

Shirley was ordered to complete 200 hours' unpaid community work and banned from driving for 12 months. Before going back on the road she will have to take a re-test.