A driver who chased and mowed down a young cyclist after her door mirror was accidentally clipped by his friend when she stopped sharply in front of them has walked free from court.

Phoebe Groves lost her temper and smashed her Vauxhall Astra into the back of the 16-year-old’s bike, throwing him through the air before he clattered onto the footpath.

The 22-year-old’s dangerous driving was caught on CCTV as the teenager pulled up outside his house on Fabian Road, just after 8pm on August 7, 2021.

The troubling footage was shown to a judge when she appeared before Teesside Crown Court for sentence.

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Jon Harley, prosecuting, said the teenage victim had been left suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder following the incident.

His mother told the court that her son had changed from a fun-loving teenager into a boy who never leaves the house and barely takes care of himself.

In a victim impact statement, she said: “Before this incident, he was a happy, go-lucky lad but hat has changed. He is not the same person anymore.”

Mr Harley said: “He was hit from behind by the vehicle driven by the defendant. He was thrown from his bike and he hit the pavement before the car drove off.”

He said the teenager suffered grazing to his face and swelling around both eyes as a result of the impact.

Groves, of Westminster Close, Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and dangerous driving.

Rod Hunt, in mitigation, said his client suffered a ‘brainstorm’ when she reacted badly to having her mirror knocked but did return to the scene after initially driving off.

He added: “She was not at the time, in her right mind.”

Judge Timothy Stead told the young woman that it was ‘highly unusual’ for a driver to avoid an immediate prison sentence in those circumstances.

He said: “I know that you know that what you did was very wrong, I believe that you are deeply sorry for it.

“You have heard me say that people who come before this court for using a vehicle as a weapon deliberately and cause injury, almost always will go immediately to prison.

“Your case is exceptional.”

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Groves was given a 12-month sentence, suspended from two years and banned from driving for 12 months.

She was also ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and attend 40 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

The judge added: “If you do breach the order within the next two years, and I don’t believe that you will, then the court will start with the suspended sentence and then will include anything else.”