Hilary Claire Blackman appeared before the court last week after a neighbour, who knew she was a driver who had been banned for a drink driving offence, reported seeing her pulling out of her drive in her Vauxhall Corsa and returning a short-time later.

Blackman, 40, who admitted the offence, was fined £400 for driving whilst disqualified, and a further £200 for driving without insurance. She had six penalty points put on her licence and was ordered to pay £60 costs plus a £15 victim surcharge.

Mr Paul Davies, prosecuting, said that a neighbour knew Blackman had been banned by Shrewsbury magistrates on September 25, 2007 but saw her driving her Vauxhall Corsa out of her drive on December 1 and watched her return some time later.

The incident was reported to the police.

In interview Blackman admitted being a banned driver and told them she had been driving it around the corner to allow visitors to park on her drive.

Miss Claire Thompson, defending, said that Blackman, a self-employed cleaner, had only been away for 20 minutes during which she became horrified when she realised it was the wrong thing to have done.

Miss Thompson explained that Blackman had kept the car because a driving ban was due to end in June having been reduced because she had successfully completed a drink driver rehabilitation course.