A woman from Dalby has been given an absolute discharge after a mix-up over her company car insurance.

Charlene Howard was charged with having no insurance and admitted the offence, but her advocate argued special reasons as she had been driving a company car at the time.

A special reason is an extenuating issue that is not a defence in law, but is directly connected to the commission of the offence and is something that ought to be considered when imposing a sentence.

Prosecuting advocate Barry Swain told the court that Ms Howard, who is 52 and lives at Lhagg Road, was stopped by police on November 29 after she was seen driving a Jeep Wrangler on May Hill in Ramsey.

The vehicle insurance had expired in August 2021.

Ms Howard said that it was a company car and that the company arranged for the insurance.

However, it was found that the insurance had not been renewed.

Defence advocate Sara-Jayne Dodge said that her client had called her company at the roadside in the presence of the police to query why the vehicle was not insured.

In court, Ms Howard gave evidence under oath, saying that she was not a director or secretary of the company, and had never had any involvement in insuring the vehicle.

Mr Swain said that he was satisfied that special reasons did apply.

Magistrates ruled that they were satisfied that Ms Howard had been misled by a third party that the vehicle was insured, which meant that the special reasons argument applied.