A reckless pensioner caught whizzing along a 30mph street at 50mph has narrowly avoided losing her driving licence.

Sonia Copeland-Bloom, 78, pleaded with magistrates not to disqualify her after she admitted thrashing her car through Rough Common on the outskirts of Canterbury.

The children's author, of Chapel Lane, Blean, said she struggled to operate her hybrid Toyota Yaris due to its gearbox set-up.

Representing herself at Folkestone Magistrates' Court today, she said: "I had a hybrid car that I didn't get on with at all - it was half-manual and half-automatic.

"It was a problem going up a steep hill - not that I'm blaming that as I am responsible for my driving.

"I'm glad to say I got rid of it and got a new Toyota."

Copeland-Bloom told the court how her partner was not feeling well on the day of the offence in January.

She wanted to get back home to Chapel Lane to be with him following a trip to the bank in Canterbury city centre.

"I drive every single day and go along that road most days," she said.

"I do try to be a better driver."

Copeland-Bloom said if she lost her licence it would be "very inconvenient for my partner to drive me places".

Despite being clocked 20mph above the speed limit, magistrates decided not to ban her from the road.

"We have levels of seriousness and you are right on the edge of going into the most serious," they said.

"But we are not going to disqualify you."

Copeland-Bloom was given six penalty points on her licence, bringing the total to nine - just three away from facing automatic disqualification.

She was also fined £200 and hit with £85 costs.

To read more of our in depth coverage of all of the major trials coming out of crown and magistrates' courts across the county, click here.

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