A FORMER mechanic has been banned from the roads after she crashed her faulty car into a bollard and flipped it on its roof.

Alison Clements, 32, from Brighton, decided to drive her Fiat Punto to work despite knowing it was defective and swerving spontaneously.

Her car eventually swerved to the left crashing into a bollard and flipping on to its roof in Preston Road, Brighton.

Clements pleaded guilty at Brighton Magistrates Court to driving a motor vehicle dangerously.

The court heard that at around 4.15pm on February 18 Clements veered left on to the pavement and hit a metal bollard blocking access to Sainsbury’s supermarket car park in Preston Road.

The car rolled over on to its roof, coming to a halt near the junction with Cumberland Road.

Clements was seen walking away before the ambulance arrived. She was described as being non-communicative with officers and paramedics, before her state worsened and she began vomiting. Police detected no signs of alcohol or drugs.

The Fiat Punto was written off. No other cars were involved in the incident.

A witness who had been driving behind Clements told officers the car had been constantly swerving, before it veered into the bollard.

Martina Sherlock, prosecuting, said: “In a police interview in May, Clements confirmed she was driving the car and hit the bollard.

“She said she had no recollection of events and the car swerved twice before.

“She said she was aware of the defect and did nothing to address it.”

Steve Wedd, defending, said: “She was aware the car was pulling to the left and continued to drive on, and in due course she crashed into a bollard.

“There was no silly driving or high speeds, the car was just in a defective state.”

Clements of Upper Rock Gardens, Brighton, has four previous driving-related convictions for eight offences.

Chairman of magistrates Robert Macrowan disqualified Clements from driving for three years.

He said: “It is the feeling from this bench that you are not safe to drive on the road.

“You are fortunate something more serious did not take place. It is a good job the bollard was there to stop you ploughing in to someone.

“You are a liability and because of that you are disqualified from driving for 36 months.”

She also received a 12 week custodial sentenced suspended for two years and was ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid work in the community. She must pay £100 in court costs plus a £115 surcharge.