A DISQUALIFIED motorist who crashed a car claimed her elderly mother had been driving in an attempt to avoid punishment.
Venesse Rosa Evans, of Primrose Way, Wrexham, was driving her mother’s car along Mold Road near Gwersyllt when she crashed into the central reservation.
Her mother Margaret, who suffers from dementia, was in the passenger seat next to her.
Evans, 58, eventually pleaded guilty to a charge of careless driving and driving without a licence or insurance at Wrexham Magistrates Court but had previously told police her mother had been behind the wheel of the Ford Focus at the time of the accident.
Mrs Evans Snr, 80, had even written to police claiming she had been the driver to protect her daughter, who was already disqualified after a previous careless driving offence in 2011.
Matthew Ellis, prosecuting, said: “The crash happened where two lanes become one.
“The car had lost control and hit the central reservation damaging it and the car.
“Both women were breathalised but blew negative readings but Venesse Evans was found to have taken medication that day.
“The police always believed the defendant had been driving but she claimed it was her mother.
“It was felt she was trying to pull the wool over the police’s eyes.”
The court heard Evans’ licence was also endorsed with eight penalty points at Mold Magistrates Court on January 15 in relation to another matter.
Kate Thew, defending, claimed her client, who lives with and cares for her mother, had “panicked” under interview with the police and had concocted the lie.
“Mrs Evans’ mother enjoyed driving and had decided she wanted to go out in the car,” she said.
“My client did not feel she was up to it but feared she would go anyway so she made the foolish decision to drive herself.
“She caused an accident because she had been paying attention to her mother in the passenger seat and took her eye off the road.
“Thankfully, it didn’t involve anyone else.
“This has been a lesson learned for them both and neither have any intention of driving anymore.”
Evans had suffered significant personal difficulties including having to give up her job in social services to care for her mother which meant she now relied on disability allowance.
She was banned from driving for three years and ordered to pay a £50 fine and £20 victim surcharge.