A PREGNANT mother of three was saved from a driving ban after a court heard her car was vital to her.

Solicitor Rod Young appealed to Newport magistrates not to ban Mandy Roberts under the totting-up procedure, when six points on her licence meant she faced disqualification.

Roberts, aged 30, of Lliswerry Park Drive, Newport, had admitted using her car without insurance when she was involved in a traffic accident on Chepstow Road on March 23, and the court placed six points on her licence.

Roberts told magistrates she would never have driven without insurance and at the time believed her car was insured.

She said she had since found out that her husband, from whom she is separated, had cancelled his payments to the insurance company, which left her without cover.

Mr Young said: "Her husband paid the policy by direct debit which covered both of them to drive. However, when he left he cancelled the policy. This lady is not someone who drives round carelessly without insurance."

Mr Young said Roberts needed her car to drive for pre-natal checks at a hospital in Cardiff and to take her children to school.

Fining Roberts £100 with £35 costs, the magistrates said they would not disqualify her, but warned her that any further motoring offence would result in a ban.