Magistrates allow Hungerford beautician to keep driving licence
Vicki Stratford, 32, successfully argued that to do so would cause her and her family “exceptional hardship” and lead to the loss of her business. Ms Stratford admitted driving without insurance and driving without a valid test certificate on June 13 last year.
Claire French, prosecuting, said that Ms Stratford has a previous conviction for driving without insurance and added: “She is facing a driving ban under the penalty points ‘totting’ procedure.”
Mike Davis, defending, called the mother of three to give evidence under oath.
Ms Stratford said she had built a successful career as a self employed, mobile beauty therapist with clients based mainly in the Hungerford and Kintbury areas.
She explained that her previous conviction arose due to an inadvertently missed insurance payment, causing the policy to be cancelled without her knowledge.
The current offence happened because of a family emergency, she said.
Ms Stratford explained her estranged husband called to say his father was dying and asked her to bring the children to his bedside. She said: “I asked my own father if I could use his car. He said yes and that I would be covered by his insurance.” In fact, the court heard, he was mistaken and Ms Stratford was stopped by police as she travelled from her home on Almond Drive, Thatcham, to the hospital.
Ms Stratford said she needed to keep her licence to carry the tools of her trade and said that, in addition, her children and parents relied on her driving.
Magistrates fined her £200 with £85 costs and £20 surcharge. They added six more penalty points, taking her across the disqualification threshold, but said they believed that to activate a ban would cause exceptional hardship. Ms Stratford was allowed to keep her licence.