A woman who was given a suspended prison sentence had used her Astra car “as a weapon”, a court chairman declared.

Shelby Louise Jones, 23, had been in a scuffle with a group of women in The Square at Kinmel Bay last January after a row over her reversing manouevre, then drove towards them, causing injury to one victim.

At Llandudno court Jones, of Maesgwyn, Kinmel Bay, who is due to give birth imminently, received a 20-week jail sentence, suspended for a year and must pay £300 in costs, including £100 compensation for damage to the victim’s mountain bike.

She was banned from driving for 15 months after pleading guilty to dangerous driving and must take an extended re-test before getting behind the wheel again.

Court chairman Brian Cossey remarked: “We believe the victim will be pursuing matters elsewhere for compensation for her injuries.”

Diane Williams, prosecuting, showed the magistrates CCTV clips of the incident.

She said Jones had told police: “I don’t know what I was doing, I just panicked.”

A probation officer told the court that according to Jones she had been fearful for her safety.

“She doesn’t believe she drove deliberately at them but can’t be certain about it because she can’t really remember as she was in a panic. She accepts that she left the scene. She said she didn’t wish to stay there because she was frightened. She accepts injuries were caused and she’s very sorry and would like to express her apologies to the victim.”

Solicitor Rebecca Boswell, defending, said four women had emerged from a nearby salon.

“There’s a scuffle, the defendant maintains, and she got back in the car and locked the doors. She accepts her driving was dangerous, she wanted to reverse but couldn’t find a way out.”

The solicitor claimed: “She acted rashly in a moment of panic. It was out of character. All parties had the opportunity to de-escalate the situation.”