A WOMAN who threw herself in front of a car in Kelty narrowly avoided a spell in prison.

Ashley Lewis, 29, jumped into the road, which forced a driver to brake, and she then subjected the motorist to abuse, shouting "hit me just f****** hit me".

Appearing for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court, Lewis had earlier admitted that on August 19, at Black Road, Kelty, she behaved in a threatening or abusive manner which was likely to cause a reasonable person to suffer fear or alarm by shouting, swearing, attempting to throw herself in front of a car and making threats.

The following day, at Dunfermline Police Station, she assaulted a police officer in execution of her duty by seizing hold of her hand and squeezing it tightly and spitting at her.

She also, without reasonable excuse, wilfully or recklessly destroyed or damaged the property belonging to another by biting and tearing up custody clothing.

Lewis also faced a review of an existing community payback order which she had breached for offences which she had committed on April 3.

Depute fiscal Joanne Smith said the most recent incident took place at around 11.20pm.

"Witnesses were driving in Main Street, Kelty and became aware of the accused walking on the pathway," she told the court. "Without warning, she jumped in front of the witnesses car which caused the driver to brake harshly.

"The accused faced up to the witnesses and was shouting and swearing 'hit me just f****** hit me'. The witnesses were unsure as to what she might do next so reversed away from her."

After being traced by police, Lewis was taken in to custody where she required to be provided with a suicide suit due to fears she might harm herself.

She was observed and was biting the clothing to try and tear it and also bit a mattress.

During the early hours, she spat at a police officer who had come into the cell and later grabbed a female officer by the hand and began to grip it very tightly. Another officer had to intervene to help loosen the grip.

Solicitor Ian Beatson said his client had a "somewhat difficult" year. In March she miscarried and was suffering from stress and anxiety.

"As far as the most recent incident is concerned, she was very stressed out that day," he said. "She had been placed on medication earlier that month which takes around six weeks to stabilise.

"She was not coping at the time. She cannot explain why she acted like that in relation to people who were in the motor vehicle.

"She has attempted suicide previously but doesn't know if that was going through her mind at the time."

Sheriff Charles Macnair warned Lewis that she was very close to a custodial sentence.

"You may think that because you have the care of children, no-one is going to send you to prison. If that is your belief, get it out of your mind completely," he said.

"If you keep going the way you are, that is precisely what will happen to you. These are both serious offences, in particular assault of a police officer.

"It is with the greatest of hesitation that you are not getting a lengthy custodial sentence today."

For the incident in Kelty, he placed Lewis on a restriction of liberty order for eight months.

In relation to the breach, he extended the supervision requirement of the order to two years and also ordered her to do a further 50 hours of unpaid work.