'Fitness obsession' caused woman to drive car

The woman is Jacqueline Elizabeth Hill (34), of The Warren, Knock Road, Ballymoney, and she had the offences detected in Coleraine on September 26 last year.

North Antrim Magistrates Court in Coleraine was told on Friday police also detected her using a hand held mobile phone.

She was given six penalty points and fined a total of 200 on the insurance and mobile phone offences and an absolute discharge relating to the licence offence as it was “rectified very quickly”.

The defence solicitor said the defendant, who is on incapacity benefits, suffers from bipolar which “makes her obsessive to certain aspects of her life” and as part of that she had an obsession with being healtly and fit and attending the gym.

He said the defendant’s sister was due to take her to the gym and when she “let her down” she decided to use the vehicle.

Regarding the use of the phone the defence solicitor said the “phone rang and she answered it”