Melanie's Manoeuvre
Closed Circuit television in Andover Hants, recorded 20 year old Melanie Andrews driving her Vauxhall forwards into a parking space, forcing Julie Brown to have to shunt her Toyota backwards out of the space. The `Parking Rage' incident occurred last December and came to court this month. The incident was broadcast nation-wide across the TV networks.

Ian Lowrie, defending, said that Melanie had been suffering several problems including debt and treatment for depression when the incident accord. `She chose the moment to exercise some of the determination not to be pushed around or be told what to do'. Judge Charles Wade, presiding at Winchester Crown Court said `That her driving was clearly dangerous not just insofar as it affected Mrs. Brown's young son. It was also dangerous to the public'. The judge continued, `You resolutely and deliberately used your car to push Mrs Brown's car into the road and went into the parking space which you had, in my view, quite arrogantly decided was yours. There can be absolutely no justification for what you did'.

Melanie Andrews was ordered to pay £75 each to Mrs. Brown and her son and banned for twelve months. To get her licence back she will have to take her driving test again.

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