Troy Coverdale, 33, of St John's Close, had admitted careless driving but denied the more serious offence when he strayed into oncoming traffic in Birmingham Road, Warwick, in January.

Prosecutors at Warwick Crown Court accepted Coverdale's plea, and he was fined £500 and had three points added to his licence on July 25. But recorder Amjad Nawaz told Coverdale there was "no distinction" from someone using a mobile phone.

Prosecutor Tammy Mears described how Coverdale was leaving Warwick when he drove round a roundabout and onto the wrong side of the road, slamming into a Fiat Punto driving in the opposite direction.

Both cars were undrivable and the woman, who could do nothing to avoid the collision, was in shock and suffered chest and back pains.

Coverdale told police he had not been in a hurry and was in a good mood because it was his birthday.

Referring to other comments made by Coverdale to the police, Recorder Nawaz said: "The prosecution takes the view that someone who is looking at paperwork on his lap is guilty only of careless driving." But Mr Nawaz asked what the difference was between that and causing an accident while making a call on a mobile phone.

Miss Mears explained that the decision to accept Coverdale's plea was taken because he said he had only 'momentarily' looked at the papers on his lap. In mitigation, Trevor Pinnock said Coverdale, who was working for a market garden business, claimed he was not reading the paperwork, although it was on his lap.

Recorder Nawaz fined Coverdale and told him: "You are extremely fortunate the plea has been accepted. I see no distinction between someone using a mobile phone causing a danger and what you were doing."