PERSISTENT driving offender Jacqueline Martin has been banned four years.

Bury magistrates disqualified the mother-of-two after hearing a catalogue of minor motoring matters.

Prosecuting, Dr Roger Woods read out details from seven files relating to offences which the 32-year-old had been involved with. The majority related to driving with no insurance, having no test certificate and on one occasion, having defective brakes.

Dr Woods described the offences, dating back to December 1995, some of which occurred within 24 hours of each other.

On one occasion, in March of last year, he described how a police officer had seen Martin, of Albert Place, Whitefield, driving along Bury Old Road in Prestwich at about 20mph.

Pelican crossing lights had changed to red and three pedestrians had stepped onto the road but the Martin's van continued without stopping.

Dr Woods said: "A short time later the vehicle turned right and proceeded at around 10mph. It was pulled over by the officer and the defendant said that her brakes had just failed. In fact, the brake pedal could be pushed all the way to the floor without any effect."

Martin, who had pleaded guilty or been convicted of a total of 15 different matters, was said to have given up driving because she realised she could not afford the cost of keeping a vehicle on the road. This had been the main cause of her problems.

In addition to the ban, she was given a two-and-a-half-year conditional discharge, ordered to pay £35 compensation for excise licence evasion and £100 costs.

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