AN impatient driver who struck a bin man while attempting to overtake his vehicle has been handed a 15 month driving ban.

Susana Fonseca, 41, of Warneford Close, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving when she appeared before magistrates in Chippenham on Wednesday.

Fonseca had been due to stand trial for two offences but after her guilty plea the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to pursue a second count of common assault.

The court heard that on the morning of September 21, 2016, a Swindon Borough Council bin lorry was part way through its route and momentarily stopped on Tennyson Street off Milton Road.

Vivian Thatcher, prosecuting, said: "It is a very, very narrow road and with the lorry in the road, the road was blocked.

"There were five cars waiting. One, which belonged to the defendant, sounded its horn.

"It then drove up onto the pavement moving very slowly and came into contact with Mr Balfe, one of the refuse collectors."

The slow speed of the incident was emphasised in court and the prosecution stated that no injury had been caused. However Mr Thatcher explained that it was the Crown's judgement that the standard of driving was "far below" that which would have been expected.

Tony Nowogrodzki, defending Fonseca, told the court that she was a woman of previous good character who had spent eight years as a bus driver for which she had undertaken specialist driving training.

"This is a very odd case," he said. "The defendant is very ashamed.

"On this day she was not in a hurry. She got behind the cart with various people going about their business.

"Her explanation was that she tooted the horn to show that she was waiting. She thought one of the workmen waved her through, nobody else saw that and no other cars followed.

"I can't imagine that the refuse collector would have done that. It was a very stupid thing to do from start to finish."

After retiring to consider their decision, the magistrates returned and imposed a 15 month driving ban and a curfew from 7pm until 7am to run until midnight on July 21.

Fonseca must also pay costs of £300, compensation of £100 to Mr Balfe and a victim surcharge of £85.

David Robertson, Waste and Recycling Manager at Swindon Borough Council, said: "We are pleased with the outcome of this case, we will always press for a prosecution where council crews have had their safety put at risk.

"We hope this sends a message to other dangerous drivers who cause a danger to our crews and the public through careless driving, that this will not be tolerated and robust action will be taken."

Mary Martin, the cabinet member for communities and place, added: "Our waste crews work day in and day out to provide the excellent collection service that I am sure many take for granted.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their vital work and to say that we take their safety very seriously. This prosecution highlights some of the risks that they face."