A MOTHER who "accelerated" at police who told her she had been parked illegally outside a school while she was picking up her children has been banned from driving for a year. 

Leanne Andre,43, of Friars Rookery,  Crawley, pleaded not guilty to driving dangerously in October 2014 when she appeared at Crawley Magistrates Court on 11 June, but was found guilty.

Andre received a 12-month Community Order of 90 hours unpaid work, was ordered to pay total court costs of £810 and has been disqualified from driving for 12 months as well as then having to take an extended driving test.

The incident happened in Gales Drive, Three Bridges, on the afternoon of 23 October last year.

Andre had parked her vehicle illegally in the bus stop directly outside Three Bridges primary school whilst picking up her children from the school.

The local Three Bridges community policing team was patrolling the area at the time in response to numerous reports of dangerous parking  near the school at opening and closing times.

They put a notice on the windscreen of Andre's car pointing out that it was parked illegally.

Upon Andre's return to her car a PCSO approached her explaining why the notice had been issued. She responded by directing verbal abuse at him, and drove off.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: "A Police Constable asked her to stop but instead she accelerated towards the officer, swerving just to avoid contact, and continued gaining speed as she drove away, giving no consideration to the parents and children who were waiting, as she claimed she was in a rush."

Officers had the registration number and description of the car and subsequently went to Andre's home nearby to arrange to inteview her under caution.

PC Jo Millard said; "Andre's actions on that day were irresponsible and dangerous. We will take action against offenders driving in such an anti-social and dangerous manner."