Melissa Pesticcio (pictured arriving at Cardiff Crown Court today) is accused of causing the death of love rival Sophie Taylor
A jealous woman killed a love rival in a terrifying 'Fast and Furious-style' car chase after forcing her BMW to smash into a house, a court heard.
Melissa Pesticcio, 23, is said to have pursued her ex-boyfriend's latest partner Sophie Taylor, 22, through busy streets until the late-night car crash ended in tragedy.
A court heard Pesticcio and former boyfriend Michael Wheeler, 22, drove separate cars as they chased call centre worker Sophie on the three-mile pursuit.
Prosecutor Matthew Cobbe said there was a 'period of hostility' between the two women due to their relationships with Wheeler.
Cardi ff Crown Court heard Pesticcio sent a text to Wheeler's sister Lisa, which read: 'I will find her and I will kill her.'
Mr Cobbe told the jury that 'the vile, trashy language' used by Pesticcio in the text 'clearly gives an indication' of her feelings towards Ms Taylor.
Pesticcio had dated Wheeler but the pair split when he began seeing Sophie Taylor in July of last year.
Miss Taylor took out a loan for £6,500 to buy an off-road motorbike for Wheeler just weeks later.
But when the pair split soon after, she wanted the money back, causing 'angry exhanges' between the pair.
Mr Cobbe said: 'He appears to have done all he can to avoid any contact with Ms Taylor.'
The court heard Wheeler had been involved in an accident while driving the bike and ended up in Morriston Hospital, Swansea.
A court heard Pesticcio and former boyfriend Michael Wheeler (left) drove separate cars as they chased call centre worker Sophie (pictured right) on the three-mile pursuit
Jackie Taylor (middle), the mother of Sophie Taylor, arrives with friends and family at Cardiff Crown Court
Mr Cobbe said: 'She tried to engage with Wheeler but to no real success.
'Melissa Pesticcio had in the mean time become involved, and any conversation that did take place involved hostility towards Miss Taylor.'
A few days earlier, Pesticcio had seen Miss Taylor and shouted: 'You're lucky I have got the kids in the car, or I would f*****g kill you'.
Miss Taylor and her friend Joshua Deguara, 21, went his house to demand the money back - but he refused.
The feud spilled over into the car chase through the busy streets as both Wheeler and Pesticcio gave chase through Adamsdown, Cardiff.
Pesticcio began the alleged pursuit in her white BMW 1 Series - and Wheeler was slower to respond but later joined in driving his Vauxhall Corsa.
It is alleged that Pesticcio led the pursuit for 'some time' before Wheeler later overtook her to lead the chase.
Prosecutor Matthew Cobbe said there was a 'period of hostility' between the Sophie Taylor (left) and Pesticcio (right) due to their relationships with Wheeler
Mr Cobbe said: 'She was the leading pursuit car for the majority of the pursuit.
'The front near side of Wheeler's car came into contact with the rear offside of Miss Taylor's car, causing it to slide and crash into the residential building.'
But he said Pesticcio was also responsible after taking 'a main role in the protracted pursuit'.
Mr Cobb said: 'There's no doubt Sophie thought she was being pursued by both cars.
'Pesticcio deliberately drove dangerously at Sophie, forcing her to take evasive action.'
Pesticcio, of Llanrumney, Cardiff, denies causing death by dangerous driving, causing serious injury by dangerous driving and two charges of dangerous driving.
Wheeler has already pleaded guilty to causing death by dang erous driving and causing serious injury.
The trial at Cardiff Crown Court continues.
Pesticcio, of Llanrumney, Cardiff, arrives at an earlier court hearing. Joshua Deguara (right) was in Sophie's car when it crashed into a house in Adamsdown, Cardiff
