London - A road rage driver who punched a woman in the face has been told she may avoid prison if she can prove in five months that she can knit.
Amanda McCabe followed Claire Smith through Dundee in the UK earlier this year before blocking her in a car park, opening her car door and hitting her in the face.
McCabe, 47, pleaded guilty to attacking Miss Smith but denied tailing her, claiming that she was driving the same way by coincidence as she is a keen knitter and was on her way to a wool shop on the street where the attack took place.
In a bizarre twist, Sheriff John Rafferty deferred sentencing until December and offered McCabe the chance to avoid jail by proving she can knit.
He said at Dundee Sheriff Court: “This was quite a shocking incident?...? If you are a skilled knitter then I am sure you could produce some goods for charity.
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“You will bring to court several items that you have knitted that you are prepared to donate to a charity shop.
“It will not be a meagre amount. You have committed serious offences but you have a chance to do something useful with you time. Take this chance.”
McCabe claimed she could knit a jumper in around two days at a cost of between £6 and £7 (R115 - R130).
The court heard the dispute on January 8 began after McCabe joined an A road and Miss Smith “made it clear” she was not happy with her driving. McCabe followed Miss Smith for up to ten minutes. The victim took a wrong turn into a car park, and was trying to perform a U-turn when McCabe attacked her.
Miss Smith was left with a red mark on her face but did not require medical help. Jim Laverty, defending, said McCabe was “utterly ashamed of herself and says it was simply a loss of control”.
McCabe has a criminal record but no convictions in the last decade. She will be sentenced on December 14.
Daily Mail