Southampton woman avoids jail after dangerous driving rampage

Shannah Cave reversed straight through her mother's garden fence "using her vehicle as a wrecking ball".

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Just moments before, the 27-year-old had repeatedly kicked the front door of the property in Primrose Road, Southampton causing £400 in damage, a court heard.

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She had turned up both drunk and argumentative, according to prosecution barrister, Sam Barker.

Members of the public eventually called the police and Cave of Tatwin Crescent drove off in her white Vauxhall Corsa.

Honeysuckle Road in Southampton

Police officers who were nearby at the time positioned their car in Honeysuckle Road to stop her with one of them getting out on foot to "block the gap".

However, she drove on leaving forcing him to step out of the way and leaving him shaking.

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Mr Barker described it as a close shave with the PC reporting that Cave's car had missed him by a foot.

A witness who spotted her, later on, described her revving her engine and driving at such speed that smoke was coming from the car.

Shannah Cave

Officers finally tracked her to Arnold Road in Eastleigh where she was sat in the driver's seat following the incident on February 29 last year.

She was "verbally abusive" during arrest and "stupidly" kicked out at an officer when being led to a police van.

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Once inside, she screamed, shouted and violently kicked out.

Appearing before Southampton Crown Court on Tuesday she was charged with criminal damage, dangerous driving, assaulting an emergency worker and assaulting an emergency worker with intent to resist arrest.

Stock image: Southampton Crown Court

She pleaded guilty on the basis she had not been trying to hit the police officer with her car and had been panicked at the time.

A charge of not guilty to driving with excess alcohol was recorded on her file.

No reason was given why she went to her mother's home originally but "tensions" were mentioned.

Defending, Jamie Gammon said the offences happened within the context of Cave "completely losing it".

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He cited her struggles with mental health and said she was both deeply ashamed and remorseful of her actions.

Mr Gammon argued for any sentence to be suspended and that Cave cares for her son.

Mr Recorder Mathew Turner said the offences had clearly crossed the custody threshold and described her behaviour as reckless.

However, he said the offending had been out of character and that the sentence would be different had the police officer been injured.

She was jailed for seven months, suspended for 18 months.

Cave will have to complete 80 hours of unpaid work and 24 rehabilitation activity days.

She was given a three year driving ban.