A WOMAN under stress during a sex change has been jailed for assaulting a neighbour. Emma Louise Bowman, 39, punched Susan Watson, 47, on the jaw after driving into the back of her, Barnsley magistrates' court was told.

Rose Carr, prosecuting, said Ms Watson was driving home after dropping her son off at school when she noticed Bowman was following closely.

Mrs Carr said: "Ms Watson felt a jolt and realised that Miss Bowman had driven into the back of her. Miss Bowman got out of her car and pointed and shouted at Ms Watson. She called her a bitch, went towards the car and punched her on the jaw through the window on the driver's side.

"Ms Watson said to police there had been problems with Miss Bowman which made her nervous."

A statement by Ms Watson read out in court stated: "Emma Bowman would do anything to make my life a misery. She would do anything to intimidate me."

Bowman at first denied assaulting Ms Watson and failing to stop after an accident but changed her pleas to guilty on January 27.

District judge Michael Rosenberg sent her to prison for three months and banned her from driving for three months.

He said: "I have noted that you have psychological problems because of your gender re-assignment. I have not heard a sign of remorse for your behaviour."

Full story in this week's Chronicle