A DANGEROUS driver deliberately smashed her car into an elderly couple’s camper van while her four-year-old daughter cried in the back seat.

Toni West, 35, was spared prison in an act of mercy after she was captured on CCTV driving “erratically” at Waldergraves Holiday Park, Mersea, on June 10 last year.

Ipswich Crown Court heard at around 11pm a witness shouted at her to slow down.

When she came to a stop her car was surrounded by a group of people.

West alleges the group behaved aggressively towards her and she panicked after a stone was hurled at her windscreen.

Recorder Sarah Przybylska said she was satisfied, on the basis of the CCTV, West drove her car deliberately at the group, causing them to scatter.

“You circled and drove at them again,” she said.

“You drove out of the car park and drove at speed into a camper van. You reversed and drove at the camper van again.

“The occupants inside the camper van at the time were an elderly couple. They were on holiday.”

Ms Przybylska said when stopped by the police, West “made a racist comment”.

“When you were arrested your four-year-old daughter was in the car, frightened and crying,” she said.

The judge said West was “fortunate” a breath test was not conducted at the hospital in the aftermath of the crash.

Instead, she was tested hours later shortly after 2am, returning a reading of 29mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, under the legal limit of 35mcg.

West admitted dangerous driving and criminal damage.

Recounting a victim statement penned by the owners of the damaged caravan, Ms Przybylska said: “He and his wife are elderly and in retirement used to go on holiday regularly in the caravan, it was something they enjoyed.

“These events made them reluctant to sleep in the caravan again. They were frightened and they sold it.

“Your actions had a very real impact on them.”

But she said West, of Onslow Crescent, Colchester, is a single mother and carer for her young daughter and baby boy.

The court heard she had suffered domestic abuse at the hands of a former partner.

West was sentenced to ten months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to complete a rehabilitation activity requirement.

She will be subject to a curfew for three months and must pay £250 in compensation to the owners of the camper van.

She was banned from driving for a year.