A woman has been banned from driving and fined £800 after she sped away from police to get an epilepsy magnet to her niece.

Rebecca Elizabeth Varey, of Heather Crescent, Pulrose, admitted dangerous driving and failing to stop for police.

Magistrates banned the 32-year-old mother of two from driving for 12 months with an order to retake her test at the end of the ban.

We previously reported how police were on patrol in Pulrose on November 4 at 5.30pm when they saw a Volkswagen Polo driven by Varey.

They were concerned about her driving so followed her along Springfield Road towards the New Castletown Road.

Varey then drove on to Cooil Road overtaking two vehicles as she went.

Police lit their lights as they followed her through the Isle of Man Business Park onto Vicarage Road where her speed was said to have reached 70mph.

Her driving was described as ’wild’ by police as she approached bends at speed, braked late and swerved.

She continued to drive on to Peel Road to Union Mills industrial estate where she turned off her lights as she overtook two more vehicles at speed.

At this point police decided that it was too dangerous to give chase but the car was found later parked at an address at Strang Close.

Varey was at a different address and when interviewed by police said she had collected her boyfriend from Castlemona Avenue then realised she still had her niece’s epilepsy magnet, which helps prevent seizures.

She said her sister had alerted her to the fact the magnet was in the car.

When asked if she had seen the police lights she said: ’Yes, I should have pulled over.’

Regarding turning off her lights at Union Mills, Varey said she had not realised she had done it and that she must have flicked them off by accident.

Defence advocate Aalish Hannan said: ’Ms Varey knows disqualification is mandatory for dangerous driving. She is self-employed and requires her licence for parts of her employment. The loss of her licence will be significant on the whole family.

’She has had a clean licence for three years. There were no complaints from any other road users.

’Her niece has two magnets, one held by her mum and one by her aunt. Her mum mislaid her magnet. In a panic Ms Varey drove as quickly as she did to get the magnet to her.

’She should have stopped for police. Her ability to support her sister will also be impacted now.’

Magistrates also ordered Varey to pay £50 prosecution costs.

She will pay the fine and costs at a rate of £20 per week deducted from benefits.