A BARRHEAD woman who forced another motorist to career off the road in to a ditch after driving head-on towards her vehicle has been allowed to keep her licence.

Sara Nowak was overtaking a tractor last February when she caused a car driving towards her to swerve out of the way – coming to rest in a ditch.

The details emerged this week when Nowak, 24, appeared in the dock at Paisley Sheriff Court to admit her guilt over the incident, which took place in Dodside Road, on the outskirts of Barrhead.

Procurator Fiscal Depute Pamela Flynn, prosecuting, said the witness had not been injured in the incident, but was left badly shaken.

Defence solicitor advocate Robert Kerr struck a deal with prosecutors which saw Nowak plead guilty to a reduced charge.

She had been charged with dangerous driving but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of driving without due care and attention.

Mr Kerr asked for leniency saying Nowak works in Glasgow in a £20,000-per-year IT job and needs her car for her work.

After hearing Nowak, of Stewart Crescent, had since changed her licence to a UK-issued one, Sheriff Seith Ireland opted not to ban her from driving. He fined her £270, reduced from £300 as she admitted her guilt, and placed three penalty points on her licence.