A man used his car as a weapon and reversed into his former partner, leaving her lying injured on a roadside verge, a court heard.

Shayne Widdowson, 29, followed his former partner in his car, as she was walking home to Watton along Bray's Lane, in Rockland.

After confronting her, Widdowson then got back in his vehicle and reversed into her, throwing her into a nearby verge of nettles and thorns, Norwich Crown Court heard.

Andrew Thompson, prosecuting, said the victim was thrown backwards into the undergrowth at the roadside verge.

Afterwards Widdowson got out of his car and shouted sorry before leaving the scene.

Mr Thompson said a passing cyclist found the victim in the verge and called emergency services.

She was taken to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital but suffered only cuts and bruises.

He said the victim had not wanted to make any victim impact statement to the court.

Widdowson, of Norfolk Drive, Attleborough, admitted dangerous driving on September 23 last year, as well as assault.

He was given a 12-month jail sentence, suspended for two years, and a 12-month driving ban.

Judge Stephen Holt told him that the victim must have been terrified: 'It must have been a very frightening experience to be hit by a car going into reverse.'

He added: 'The act of driving at someone and knocking them over using your car as a weapon is very serious and clearly crosses the custody threshold.'

However after hearing Widdowson suffered from a number of difficulties, he agreed to suspend the sentence so he can get help from probation for his problems.

Judge Holt said normally such an offence would merit an immediate jail term.

Andrew Oliver, for Widdowson, said he had since reflected on what happened and realised that the relationship problems had been caused by his excessive drinking.

He said that his former partner had now moved on with her life: 'There has been no attempt to contact her and no further complaints.'