NZ driver with 'personality issues' faces court over ramming car spot thief

A New Zealand driver who was filmed ramming the car of a driver who stole her parking spot has unresolved anger management issues, a court has heard.

Joanne Marie Sharples, 45, was caught on a Wellington shop CCTV camera on June 6 waiting to do a U-turn to park on the other side of the road.

When another car pulled into the space, Sharples reversed a few metres before accelerating into the vehicle, shunting it forward.

She pleaded guilty to charges of dangerous driving and failing to stop in Wellington District Court today, Stuff.co.nz reported.

The court heard Sharples had a conviction for dangerous driving from 2008 in circumstances similar to the latest incident.

Sharples had "personality issues, to give it a neutral word", Judge Chris Tuohy said

Her lawyer Colin Ross said his client was humiliated when video capturing the incident was leaked and had sought counselling to help her deal with situations that "triggered" her anger.

Sharples was sentenced to 75 hours' community work and disqualified her from driving for nine months.

Source: Stuff.co.nz
Author: Chloe Ross, Approving editor: Nick Pearson