A WOMAN has had five penalty points added to her driving licence after an incident on Thamesdown Drive which saw a motorcyclist almost knocked off his bike.

Clare Down appeared at Swindon Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday morning to stand trial on one matter of driving without due care and attention dating from July 2, 2015.

Having previously not sought legal advice until the morning of the trial Down, 25, changed her plea to guilty. In light of this the prosecution only sought the standard £85 in costs against her, despite the matter going to trial.

Prosecuting, Keith Ballinger told magistrates that Down, of Burbage Road, had been driving a Ford Focus in Thamesdown Drive just before 5pm on the day in question when an incident unfolded with a motorcyclist.

He said: “Mr Bench was riding his motorcycle in the right hand lane and he became aware of her Ford Focus to his left indicating to pull over into his lane. He believed she hadn’t noticed him and he was fearful there might be a collision. He slowed down and sounded his horn.

“He says it appeared she was on her phone. She disputes this. He moved up alongside and says he was shaken and upset by what had happened and feared he could have fallen off. He taps the right mirror out of his frustration. The casing appears to come loose.”

Mr Ballinger then detailed how the Focus pulled out behind the motorcyclist, catching his rear wheel with her front bumper which almost made him lose control, although he did not fall off. He continued on before stopping to call the police.

When interviewed, Down told the police she had been changing lanes and had not noticed the motorcycle because it was in her blind spot.

She said the motorcyclist had banged on her wing mirror, causing it to be damaged.

Representing herself in court she said: “I don’t think I am guilty of a lot of things. He made me angry, my son was in the car – it was just one of those spur of the moment things I guess.”

After offering her defence she broke down in tears.

Hearing that Down had previously had a clean driving licence, the magistrates imposed a fine and endorsed her licence.

Chairman of the bench Viv Street fined her £100 and ordered that she pay £85 prosecution costs and a £20 victim surcharge. She also received five penalty points on her licence.