A mother-of-four who crashed into a car before fleeing the scene with a child has avoided an immediate prison sentence after pleading guilty to dangerous driving.

Bradford Crown Court heard that Denna Lynch, 28, of Harrison Close, Bradford, was seen driving erratically, “swerving all over” and mounting the kerb on Leeds Road in Shipley at around 10.30am on July 13 this year.

She then overtook another car on a blind corner at Cote Farm Lane, Thackley, and smashed into another car coming in the opposite direction.

The court heard that the other car was dragged along the road due to the high speed that Lynch was travelling at.

She then stopped before reversing and driving off, ignoring members of the public who confronted her. A young child was seen sitting in the front passenger seat.

The car was later found abandoned on Albion Road, Greengates. Footage from CCTV cameras showed Lynch and the child taking a taxi.

Police found her at her home “in a drunken state”, where she was arrested.

She later pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and having neither licence nor insurance.

The court that Lynch, who was of previous good character, “panicked” on hitting the other car. She was said to have been heading to buy flowers to put on her mother’s grave when the incident occurred.

Sentencing Lynch to eight months imprisonment suspended for two years, Mr Recorder Jeremy Hill-Baker said her driving had been “reckless and dangerous”.

He added: “Your children do not deserve to have you separated from them by your act of foolishness.”

He banned Lynch from driving for 12 months and ordered her to take an extended retest before getting behind the wheel again, imposed 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days, and ordered her to undertake 150 hours of unpaid work.

Her licence was also endorsed.