Telling police she was a “complete idiot,” a Mullion woman veered into oncoming traffic because she was scared by a spider.

Mia Luan Vamplew, of Tregellas Road, appeared before magistrates in Truro and pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention.

The 28-year-old was driving at Longdowns, heading towards Falmouth from Helston, on February 25 this year when her Fiat Punto crossed the white line.

The court heard it was alleged, and also witnessed by a passing motorist, that Vamplew moved out from her side of the carriageway and drove into the path of an oncoming police vehicle.

As a result the driver of the marked police vehicle was forced to apply her brakes hard, as she was unable to move any further to the nearside because of a bank.

She could not move to the right, as there was oncoming traffic approaching.

Vamplew then realised what was happening and managed to swerve back into her original lane, narrowly missing the police vehicle and avoiding a collision.

When stopped by the police officer and asked for an explanation, she replied: “I’m a complete idiot, I freaked because of a spider that was above my head and thought it may land on me.”

Vamplew was fined £80 and ordered to pay £60 prosecution costs plus a £20 victim surcharge.

Her driving licence was also endorsed with three penalty points.