A MOTORIST was told police would be unable to come out to her when two men were screaming abuse at her – but was then intercepted by officers less than a quarter of a mile away who suspected she had been boozing.

The woman, who asked to remain anonymous, was parallel parking outside a shop in London Road, Marks Tey, when a van driver began shouting that she had struck his vehicle.

As she continued to park another man arrived claiming she had also hit his car.

Being intimidated by what was happening, the woman locked herself in the vehicle and called 999 only to be told they would not come out unless the road was blocked or someone was injured.

After one of the men left, the woman left her insurance details with the other while the call handler was still on the line.

But just moments after being told no officers would be able to attend, the woman continued her journey and saw a marked police car further down London Road on the other side of the roundabout.

Officers then followed her and both pulled into a safe space where she was breathalysed. No trace of alcohol was found.

She said: “I could well have hit the van – I don’t think I did but I can’t be sure and my car does not have a scratch on it.

“At that point I had two aggressive men shouting at me and I locked myself in the car and called the police.

“I explained what had happened and they said they did not come out unless the road was blocked or someone was hurt.

“One of the men left and I gave my details to the other with the woman still on the phone.

“As I carried on I saw a police car parked up near the Bungalow Diner.

“So I pulled into the Marks Tey Hotel and two police cars then pulled up.

“One of the officers pulled up and told me there had been a collision and it had been reported I was under the influence of alcohol.

“I am angry because they told me they couldn’t come out and then two cars were so close.”

The woman said her faith in calling the emergency services had been rocked after the incident at 4.30pm on Sunday.

She added: “As a woman when you are on your own and feeling intimidated you don’t expect to be told police won’t attend because it doesn’t fit the criteria.

“I have never called the emergency services before – and after this experience I wonder what the point is in calling the police if they can’t help when you are feeling intimidated and scared.”

A spokeswoman for Essex Police said: "We were called shortly after 4.15pm on Sunday, May 12 by two drivers involved in a minor road traffic collision in London Road, Marks Tey.

"One of the parties reported concerns the other driver was intoxicated.

"We attended and asked the driver to carry out a breath test, which was negative.

"We have received a complaint from the driver, which we are investigating.