100mph care home worker’s ban kept to two weeks because of ‘important occupation’

District Judge Nigel Broderick was speaking in relation to Victoria French (43), of Fenaghy Park, Galgorm, who admitted speeding in the 70mph zone at Lisnevenagh Road dual-carriageway on February 28 this year.

A defence barrister said the defendant had been driving an Astra car which was a different vehicle from that which she normally uses - a Golf.

Three character references were handed in to court including one from a member of the clergy.

The defence lawyer said the defendant works a ‘twilight shift’ at a care home and losing her licence would have an impact on her.

He said the defendant had never been in front of a judge and was “not the sort of person you would expect before the courts”.

The barrister said the defendant had no points on her licence and had been driving since the age of 17.

Banning the defendant from driving for two weeks and fining her £150, the judge told Ballymena Magistrates Court: “I will temper disqualification because primarily she works in a care home and that is an important occupation but equally so is safety of others on the roads”.