THE wife of a former Maidenhill School teacher drove her car at her husband after discovering he was having an affair with an 18-year-old girl who had attended the school.

Maria Addis, 34, was angry with husband Mark, 37, after learning about the relationship.

A court heard that mum-of-two Mrs Addis shouted: "She's only 18 years old" - before driving her Chevrolet car towards her husband.

Mr Addis, her husband of 15 years, was confronted by his wife over his relationship with former Maidenhill pupil Lucy Gill.

Barnardo's charity worker Mrs Addis was due to stand trial for dangerous driving - but changed her plea to avoid "airing her dirty laundry in public".

Jeremy Jenkins, defending, said: "Things got out of hand against a background where Addis was seeking to get the truth from her husband about an extra marital affair with a former pupil.

"It was a misjudgement to move the car forward in the direction of her former husband.

"But it was brought about by the circumstances that prevailed at the time.

"She was candid in interview and accepted that the situation got the better of her. "

Addis and her husband were seen arguing in the road in Glyncoch near Pontypridd in South Wales, where she was heard shouting about the girl's age.

The court heard how her husband was demanding his phone back because he didn't want her to see "certain messages" on it.

Mrs Addis pushed him into a bush before locking herself in the family car.

Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard on Thursday how Mr Addis stood in front of the vehicle with his arms outstretched - before banging on the car.

Mrs Addis was then seen by a witness edging forward at 2mph "nudging" her husband, who fell to the ground clutching his leg.

Prosecutor Hywel Hughes said: "She was nudging him with the car causing him to move backwards and fall to the ground.

"The man was holding his left leg and groaning."

Addis, of Church Village, near Pontypridd, had denied dangerous driving and common assault. But she admitted careless driving in May rather than face the "tawdry affair" going to trial.

Addis was fined £500 and had seven penalty points imposed on her licence.

Judge Richard Twomlow told her: "This incident was a stupid incident and did not bring much credit on any participant in it."

Mr Addis, who is now a PE teacher at Aberdare Community School in south Wales, and Miss Gill both declined to comment after the case.

He is listed on Facebook as being in a relationship with financial planner Miss Gill.

Gloucestershire Country Council confirmed that Mr Addis had worked at Maidenhill School in Stonehouse while Miss Gill was a pupil there.

There is no suggestion that the pair were involved in a relationship while she was attending the school.