A 22-year-old woman has been fined £780 for driving without a licence and insurance.

Chiara Polizzi, of Castlemona Avenue, Douglas, admitted both offences and also received four penalty points.

Prosecuting advocate Rebecca Cubbon told the court how police saw Polizzi driving an Audi A4 on Crellin’s Hill in Douglas on June 14.

She was followed and stopped on Harris Promenade where checks revealed that she only held a provisional licence which had expired in May 2016. The car’s insurance was also found to cover the owner of the vehicle which was not Polizzi.

When interviewed she at first claimed she had renewed her provisional licence but then admitted she had not.

Defence advocate Ian Kermode handed in a letter of apology to the court from his client. He said: ’Ms Polizzi was aware her provisional licence had expired but genuinely thought she was covered on her friend’s insurance, but only he was covered.

’The insurance was a genuine misunderstanding.’

Magistrates fined Polizzi £650 for having no insurance and £130 for having no driving licence. She was also ordered to pay £50 prosecution costs. She will pay all amounts at a rate of £10 per week, deducted from benefits.