A young woman driver was disqualified last week for going too slowly - in an S-type Jaguar.

Dongfang Jiao, 23, caused such a hold-up of traffic as she hesitantly propelled the 140 mph motor along the outside lane of an urban dual carriageway that other drivers called the police.

Last Wednesday Stirling Sheriff Court was told that Jiao, a Chinese national and a student at Stirling University, was "exercising her right" to practice driving in the UK on a Chinese licence, but had since decided to give up motoring until she returns to her home country in early autumn.

Adrian Fraser, prosecuting, said the incident occurred about 8.40pm on November 10 last year.

A witness driving along the Burghmuir Road dual carriageway - which carries the A9 through Stirling - came across "a line of queuing traffic".

Mr Fraser said: "Looking ahead, she saw the reason for that was the accused's vehicle was being driven very slowly in the offside lane, causing other vehicles to undertake to get by, causing the queue that was building up."

"In due course" the witness came up to Jiao's car, a Jaguar S-type V6 Se automatic, but was afraid to undertake as it was being driven "very slowly in zig-zag movement" in the outside lane, coming close to the central reservation, and other vehicles.

Jiao then indicated to turn right, but in fact pulled in left, in front of the following driver, nearly causing a collision.

Mr Fraser said: "My understanding is that was a layby there, and the accused pulled into the layby, and then pulled out again and carried on, in a slow manner as before."

Jiao then pulled into the side of the road again, and a passenger in her car got into the driving seat. However, "just about immediately", Jiao took over the driving again, performed a U-turn, having reached a single carriageway section, and began driving back towards the city "still in the same slow manner".

Other motorists phoned police, who were "dispatched, and in due course pulled the accused over", the fiscal added.

Jiao was cautioned and charged with dangerous driving - but said nothing.

Jiao, of Glebe Avenue, Stirling, initially pleaded guilty by letter to dangerous driving, but was allowed to withdraw that plea. The Crown then accepted a plea of guilty to the lesser charge of careless driving.

Ken Dalling, defending, said: "This was not the crime of the century. She was seeking to practise her driving as she was entitled to do in a car she was insured to drive, and she had an experienced driver with her.

"Notwithstanding that, she got lost.

"She hasn't driven in the UK since and it is not her plan to.

"She returns to China in September."

Imposing the three month ban, but no fine, Sheriff William Gilchrist said: "I don't think she is ready for these roads, so I think the court should reinforce her wish not to drive in the UK.

"My concern is that she is not really competent to drive on the roads in this country."

Jiao, who had listened to the proceedings through an interpreter, left the court without commenting to a reporter.