A woman who attacked a friend she believed was having an affair with her husband, has avoided a conviction despite her violent outburst.
Deanna Lea Cordes (33), florist, of Abbotsford, pleaded guilty to assault and careless driving after an incident on January 7, but Judge Peter Rollo decided it was ''a one-off''.
He discharged Cordes without conviction because a criminal record would be a ''significantly disproportionate bar to you conducting a successful life and a successful role as a parent''.
The defendant had split with her husband of 11 years, six months before the incident.
The man had suffered a back injury, the court heard, which put severe strain on their relationship.
Eventually he opted to move out to focus on his rehabilitation but the change brought him closer to one of Cordes' friends.
Suspicious an illicit love affair was under way, the defendant confronted the parties but both repeatedly told her she was wrong.
On January 7, she received a message from a friend saying the pair had been seen at a fast-food restaurant.
''You were incensed and went to confront them at your husband's house,'' Judge Rollo said.
But Cordes bumped into them sooner than she expected.
On her way to the property, she saw her friend reversing out of a panel beater's and swerved across the road to cut her off.
Instead, the two collided. Cordes jumped out of her car as her husband got out of the other car's passenger seat. Bypassing him, she entered the victim's car through the passenger door and grabbed the woman's hair while yelling at her.
Cordes' husband tried to separate them but the defendant went to the driver's door.
The victim opened it and kicked her in the leg before they became involved in ''an unseemly fight on the ground''.
Hitting the victim's car had caused $3200 of damage and counsel Len Andersen said his client had arranged with the insurance company to repay the sum.
Judge Rollo noted Cordes had no relevant previous convictions and believed she was unlikely to end up back in court.
Prosecutor Sergeant Adrian Cheyne said police were neutral on a discharge without conviction but the victim was opposed.
''Injuries to the victim were not of any great consequence but obviously it would have been very disturbing and upsetting circumstances for her,'' the judge said.
He said convictions would stop her attending school camp to look after one of her children, which could have significant effects on his development.
Her actions, while unlawful, were ''understandable to some extent in the circumstances'', he said.
Cordes was ordered to pay the victim $500 at $10 a week.