A WOMAN who had never had a driving lesson in her life drove to the shops because she thought she had picked up what to do from watching her husband.

Annette Finnerty, 43, of Rosewood Avenue, Blackburn, took her husband's Audi A4 because her husband was in bed.

But she crashed the car into the back of a parked car two streets away from her home, leaving the female driver and passenger with whiplash.

Finnerty pleaded guilty to the unauthorised taking of a motor vehicle, driving without insurance and without a licence. She was made subject to community supervision for 12 months, banned from driving for 12 months and fined £120 plus £60 costs.

After the case, she said: "I regret what I did, and I certainly won't be doing it again, I''ve learned my lesson.

"I got out straight away to see if the women were OK.

"I know I did wrong and I'm sorry for it, but I am surprised that so much damaged was caused to their car - hundreds of pounds - because the only thing on our car is a cracked registration plate."

Blackburn magistrates heard that Finnerty told police she took the automatic car because she had been watching what her husband did for 20 years, and thought she would be able to drive it.

Kathy Allan, prosecuting, said police were called to the crash in Whalley New Road by the driver.

As officers were talking to the injured parties, the Audi returned with Finnerty in the passenger seat and her husband behind the wheel.

She had driven back to their terrace house after the crash, to get her husband.

The court heard that when she was interviewed by police Finnerty was asked if she drove regularly and she replied "just this once."

"Clearly this incident is aggravated by the fact that injuries were caused and the defendant has never had a driving lesson in her life," said Miss Allan.

Emma Morrissey, defending, said Finnerty had been observing her husband driving for the past 20 years.

"Although she has no formal driving history she felt she would be able to manage," said Miss Morrissey.

"After stopping to see the occupants of the car were alright she drove off but when she told her husband he said they must return immediately."