Charlotte Spence (28), of Stracomer View in Bundoran, was charged with driving without insurance and being in breach of a suspended sentence for no insurance when she appeared before Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Wednesday. 

The court heard that Spence was detected by police driving a Citreon Dispatch Van, on the Lough Shore Road, Belleek on February 28th this year. Police had stopped her on an unrelated matter when it came to light that she was driving uninsured. 

Defence solicitor Garry Smyth said Spence had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity. He added that his client was detected in a vehicle that wasn’t her own and that she had insurance cover for another van that was off the road at the time due to mechanical issues but thought that a third party extension was available to cover her.    

Mr Smyth said: “It wasn’t a case that she took the vehicle out and drove uninsured. She genuinely believed that a valid insurance policy was in place and this has caused her significant angst.” 

Deputy District Judge Amanda Brady noted that Spence had two previous convictions for no insurance which included a suspended sentence. 

“Don’t ask me not to disqualify her,” the judge told Mr Smyth who replied: “This wasn’t a blatant disregard.”

Addressing Spence, the judge said: “You have come before this court twice for no insurance and each time disqualified for three months. I will increase that to six months and the suspended sentence will remain in place, although I’m justified to put you in custody.”

In lieu of €300 bail previously lodged to the court, the judge imposed a fine of £232.35.