An unlicensed driver had become so immersed in domestic commitments she had never got around to taking her driving test, a court was told.

Douglas magistrates heard Ellan Marie Greham was spotted by police driving a blue Honda Civic in Castletown.

For the prosecution Michael Jelski told the bench: ’It was causing concern to police but they could not see where the car had gone.’

Later, a police patrol spotted the same car at Bridge Road in Ballasalla, heading towards Cross Fourways. It was being driven by 26-year-old Greham, of Poacher’s Pocket in Ballasalla.

When they stopped the car she told them she had a driving licence, but then later retracted this and, when challenged, said she had actually never held a driving licence.

She also told police she had no insurance for the car, which she had owned since Christmas - a period of three months. Nor had she completed paperwork to register the vehicle to her. She had no previous convictions, the court was told.

Greham admitted by post, driving without a licence or insurance and failing to notify a change of car ownership on March 13.

In a statement supplied to the bench, she said: ’I apologise for not attending court.’

She said she had been admitted to hospital for an operation and her child was born only five months previously.

’I plead guilty to all offences and apologise profusely,’ she said.

’It was a stupid spur-of-the-moment decision which I regret.’

She told the court she bought the car intending to take her test but had been very busy attending hospital appointments with her baby.

Magistrates’ chairman Carol Maddrell said the case would be adjourned so the defendant could appear in person. She is to appear on May 25.