A MUM-TO-BE was crushed against a sign at a petrol station by an Iraqi GP who allegedly lost her temper because she was in a hurry.

Sarah Chambers' baby, William, survived the ordeal, but Blackfriars Crown Court heard how Miss Chambers feared he might die and was so frightened, she wet herself.

Dr May Arnaot, aged 50, of Chandlers Drive, Erith, has pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving on the approach road to Gravel Hill, Bexleyheath, in Gravel Hill and on the forecourt of a BP petrol station in Bexley Road, Northumberland Heath, on August 10 last year.

She also denies destroying or damaging a Ford Fiesta car belonging to Miss Chambers' partner Steven Boakes, actual bodily harm on Miss Chambers and common assault on Mr Boakes.

The jury have been directed to find Arnaot not guilty of racially aggravated assault.

Arnaot declined to give evidence in her defence and called no witnesses.

The court was told the trouble started just before 9.30pm as the couple came off the A2 slip road at the Black Prince interchange in Bexley, on their way home.

Mr Boakes told how Miss Chambers, who was six months pregnant at the time, pulled the steering wheel sharply when another vehicle came up alongside them as they tried to turn left into Gravel Hill, Bexleyheath.

Their car was nearly forced onto the pavement, while the second vehicle just drove on up Gravel Hill.

The couple followed and when the two cars came to a halt at a red light at the top of the hill, Mr Boakes got out of his car and walked towards the Nissan X-trail 4X4 which had nearly hit them, to speak to the driver.

Mr Boakes claims he had almost reached the driver's window, when the Nissan drove off through the red light.

He started walking back to his car but the Nissan then reversed back towards him.

Miss Chambers shouted a warning and he jumped out of the way but the Nissan continued until it hit the front of his car, before driving off.

In a statement to police, Arnaot rejected this version of events and told police Mr Boakes had punched her with a "horrible outraged look in his eyes" and had tried to attack her a second and third time.

Mr Boakes' car was an insurance write-off after the incident, but David Jubb, defending, suggested the car was already damaged and suffered nothing from Arnaot.

The couple followed the Nissan into the BP petrol station in Northumberland Heath, where Miss Chambers approached Arnaot saying: "Excuse me, I don't know if you realise but you have just hit our car."

She asked for her insurance details.

Witnesses, including two crew who were refuelling their ambulance, described Miss Chambers as "calm and polite" and Dr Arnaot as "agitated and abusive".

Van driver Neil Clements said she was "like a woman possessed".

Arnaot then began to drive out of the garage, allegedly crushing Miss Chambers against an exit sign.

As Miss Chambers collapsed in agony and was attended by the ambulance crew, Mr Boakes ran down Bexley Road to where the Nissan was stuck in traffic and snatched the keys from the ignition to prevent Arnaot from driving off.

Mr Jubb suggested it was because she was frightened and felt threatened by the couple because they had followed her.

Christopher May, prosecuting, suggested Arnaot was obsessed with getting to a 9.30pm appointment and had lost her temper.

He claimed she had been abusive both to one of the ambulance crew, Mr Clements and police officers.

Miss Chambers was not well enough to give evidence at the trial. Her family says doctors have diagnosed post traumatic stress syndrome caused by the incident.

The trial continues.