A 37-year-old woman has been jailed after driving through Falkirk with a man clinging to the bonnet of her car.

Suzanne Gilchrist was caught on CCTV driving her vehicle at 22-year-old Stuart Morris in June last year.

Mr Morris, a passer-by, is seen holding on to the bonnet of the car as it weaves down several streets.

At
Stirling Sheriff Court, Gilchrist was given four years and three months
in jail. Prosecutors said her driving could have led to Mr Morris's
death.

Sheriff Wyllie Robertson told Gilchrist that CCTV footage
of the incident, which was played in court, showed "vividly" how she had
put Mr Morris's life in danger.

Drove 'at speed'Emma White,
prosecuting, said the incident began with the mother-of-one trying to
get away from the security officer at the Howgate Shopping Centre in
Falkirk at about 16:00.

Continue
reading the main story"Start QuoteShe was driving really fast, swerving
over the road, and trying to force him off the bonnet"

Emma
WhiteProsecutingShe drove away as the guard, Lorne Stevenson, tried to
open her driver's door and snatch her keys from the ignition.

Mr Stevenson was trying to speak to her about an alleged theft from Boots.

The court heard that as Gilchrist sped off, Mr Morris, an "unconnected" passer-by, was crossing the road and was in her way.

Ms White said Gilchrist drove towards him and struck him, causing him to jump on to the bonnet to avoid being hurt.

She then drove off "at speed" through a series of other short streets, weaving from side to side.

Ms White said: "She was driving really fast, swerving over the road, and trying to force him off the bonnet."

The
depute fiscal said the incident came to an end when Gilchrist was held
up by other traffic at lights and "had no option other than to come to a
halt".

'A goner'A struggle ensued, police arrived and Gilchrist was arrested.

Mr Morris, "plainly overcome", told officers he "thought he was a goner".

He
was taken to hospital on a spinal board, and found to have spinal
bruising, and bruising to his legs and fingers. He was given painkillers
and discharged.

Gilchrist, of Boswall Parkway, Edinburgh,
pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Morris, failing to give way at
junctions, and trying to throw him from her car to the danger of his
life on 12 June last year.

Her plea of not guilty to stealing a bottle of aftershave was accepted.

Rhona McLeod, defending, said Gilchrist had "believed herself to be in danger".

She
said: "She had thought that she was pregnant and was obviously
suffering from some sort of hormonal imbalance, and was on such a
knife-edge that she panicked."

Les Brown, procurator fiscal for
Stirling, said Gilchrist had "used her car as a weapon" and her driving
could have led to Mr Morris's death.

Mr Morris, a builder's labourer, said: "She deserves the jail - no-one like that should be free."