Helen Flanagan has been banned from driving for six months and handed a £3,000 fine.
The former Coronation Street actress appeared before Wirral Magistrates’ Court this afternoon after being convicted of two counts of failing to give information relating to the identification of the driver of a vehicle when required. The 34-year-old failed to respond to notices of intended prosecution which asked her to identify who was behind the wheel of her Audi Q7.
This was when the car had been clocked speeding in Liverpool and Sefton on July 10 and 26 last year. Mum-of-three Helen claimed she believed her boyfriend Robbie Talbot had responded to police notices, the ECHO reports.
During the hearing, the prosecution solicitor stated the Audi had been caught speeding at 42mph in a 30mph zone on Scotland Road, near to the junction with Dryden Street, at 1.16pm on June 6 last year. On June 25 at 11.16am, the same vehicle was caught travelling at 51mph in a 40mph zone near to junction six of the M57.
The court heard how Helen is “struggling financially” and would require her car for her three young children. She said: “Nursery is really important for my little boy. I’m a single mum so it gives me a bit of a break.
“It’s a bit of a drive to get there. The only way I would be able to get him to nursery is by Uber. That would be very expensive. I’m really struggling at the moment financially.”
The court also hears that Flanagan attends therapy sessions in Birmingham relating to post-natal depression following the birth of her daughter. She said: “She really helps me. I drive every eight weeks or every few months, whenever I’m struggling with my mental health I go and see Liz.
“It really helps me. It is a drive. I have to drive from Bolton to Birmingham. I do struggle with anxiety. I have terrible OCD. It does really impact my life in general.”
Just before 3pm, the legal advisor within the hearing added that Flanagan has six previous points for speeding offences before the magistrates retired to consider their decision.
Magistrate David Holley said: “There will be a fine in respect of both offences of £1,000, £2,000 in total.”
Flanagan was also told to pay a victim surcharge of £800 and prosecution costs totalling £110 and banned from driving fir six months.
Mr Holley said: “In addition there will be six penalty points for each offence. In the normal course of events, you would be disqualified from driving today.
“We have listened carefully to everything said today, in particular we take into account the arguments in relation to your three children, the impact your children’s father would suffer, your current partner and the impact a ban would have on your mental health.
“It is a high bar to pass and it is inevitable that every disqualification comes with an element of hardship. We are not satisfied that you or those around you would suffer exceptional hardship if you were disqualified from driving.”
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