A DANGEROUS driver rammed into two taxis and gave both drivers whiplash when she 'panicked' heading home to look after her sick son.

Diane Scarrott who was suspected of drink driving reversed at speed into one taxi and drove forward into another in The Cross, Worcester, in a bid to escape police, forcing one of the drivers to jump out of her path and officers to smash their way into her car to stop her.

Wendy Coggan, chairman of the magistrates bench, told the defendant: "This is a very serious matter. You could easily have caused serious injury or death. You weren't thinking straight, were you?"

The 29-year-old of Offerton Lane, Warndon, Worcester, admitted dangerous driving, failing without reasonable excuse to provide a specimen of blood for analysis, driving without insurance and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence on Sunday, October 14 last year when she appeared before magistrates in Worcester yesterday.

The incident happened at around 3am when two taxi drivers were at a set of traffic lights, one in front of the defendant and one behind her.

Nicola Ritchie, prosecuting, said the Avon taxi driver noticed 'something wasn't right' and saw a member of the public knocking on the front passenger window of Scarrott's Vauxhall Vectra to get her attention before revellers approached a group of three or four police officers nearby.

As police officers walked towards Scarrott's car she reversed towards his taxi. The taxi driver tried to reverse to prevent a crash but there were others cars behind him so he sounded his horn to get her attention, Miss Ritchie told the court.

"The car speeded up very quickly and aggressively as it continued to reverse towards the front of his taxi. He said he had nowhere to go. It continued to accelerate and smashed straight into the front of the taxi" Miss Ritchie told the court.

Scarrott continued to reverse, accelerated forwards into another taxi before reversing again into the first taxi.

The first taxi driver got out of his car and described both himself and a police officer having to jump out of the way of her car to avoid being run over. When his taxi was hit for the second time it was forced back into another car, causing damage to a third vehicle before Scarrott attempted to drive forwards again.

"Police managed to smash the driver's side window and gain access to the car, get the driver out of the car and subsequently arrest her" said Miss Ritchie.

One of the taxis, worth £5,000, was 'written off'. The driver had to buy a new one for £11,000 to continue working. He sustained whiplash injuries to his neck and back which required physiotherapy.

He was taking medication and expected to make a full recovery.

The other taxi driver reported damage to the car's grill, left hand side fog light and front passenger side door as a result of the front end being pushed backwards.

Because of the large excess he has not claimed on his insurance and it cost him between £500 and £1,000 to repair the car. He also reported whiplash injuries to his neck and back.

Scarrott received medical treatment for minor injuries. Miss Ritchie said: "Officers could smell alcohol and arrested her for dangerous driving and drink driving. She then gave false details to officers."

Scarrott was taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital but refused to provide a sample of blood.

Miss Ritchie said Scarrott did not have a valid licence and had no insurance. Scarrott has four previous convictions including theft but no relevant driving convictions recorded against her.

Gary Harper, defending, said Scarrott had received a call from her mother about her son being unwell.

"Because she had never had that separation before, she panicked and just wanted to get home as quickly as she could" said Mr Harper who acknowledged it was 'a very silly mistake with hindsight'.

Scarrott told a probation officer she had been out celebrating her cousin's birthday.

Wendy Coggan, chairman of the bench, said the magistrates viewed it as a 'prolonged incident' and that Scarrott had shown 'disregard for the safety of others'.

Magistrates sentenced her to 16 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months and ordered her to complete 200 hours of unpaid work within the next year.

They also disqualified her from driving for 24 months and told that if she wishes to drive again she must pass an extended driving retest.

Scarrott was ordered to pay £200 compensation to each of the taxi drivers. Magistrates imposed no separate penalty for the licence and insurance offences but ordered that her licence be endorsed.

Scarrott, who is on benefits, must also pay a victim surcharge of £115.

Ms Coggan said the bench had nearly sent the case to crown court (which has higher powers of sentence) but had been persuaded to keep it at magistrates court by Mr Harper.