A WOMAN who got behind the wheel despite having no licence or insurance and having sunk three vodkas during the day has been fined and banned from driving.

Katie Straight, 32, was spotted by police driving a Citroen Saxo on Harwich Road, Little Oakley, which flagged on their system as having no valid MOT certificate.

After pulling her over, officers noticed empty alcohol bottles in the footwell and breathalysed Straight.

Her reading was 45 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

She admitted drink driving, driving without insurance and without a valid licence at Colchester Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Tess Man, prosecuting said: "She said she was driving it to her mother's house in Walton for an MOT test the day after.

"After officers noticed the empty bottles she said she had three vodkas - two in the afternoon and one earlier on.

"When she was told she was over the limit she said she was not surprised because she could not handle much.

"Further checks showed she only had an expired provisional license."

Straight, of Princess Road, Parkeston, represented herself at the hearing after the incidents which occurred on April 9.

She admitted she had made a foolish mistake.

She said: "What I did was stupid.

"Myself and my partner had had a row and I wanted to get out of the house.

"It was totally a spur of the moment thing.

"The car had taken an MOT test and failed and I was taking it to my mum's house for another test in the following couple of days.

"I thought I could drive to my mum's and get out of the house, and take the car to her at the same time.

"I had three vodkas - one in the afternoon in the garden, one a little bit afterwards and another while I was cooking my dinner which I never got chance to eat."

Magistrates fined Straight £150.

She was also ordered to pay costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £15.

Straight was banned from driving for 14 months, and can only apply for her provisional licence back towards the end of her disqualification period.