Charlene Sorhaindo (36) – who was unhurt in the accident on 21 October – admitted driving without L-plates and without a qualified driver in the car with her. She was fined £800 by Magistrate Bridget Shaw.
The Magistrate’s Court heard that Sorhaindo, a care worker, had been in the Trinity area on a home visit to an elderly man and was driving alone, despite only having a provisional licence.
Advocate Lauren Taylor, prosecuting, said: ‘She pulled in to allow another vehicle to pass and didn’t realise she had hit a grass verge, and rolled over.
‘Not only had she not passed her test, but she was not being supervised and had not displayed learner plates.’
Advocate Angela Roscouet, defending, said that there had been a heavy storm the day before the accident and a tree trunk covered by other debris had been lying on the verge. ‘That was where the car rolled over,’ she said.
She added: ‘She deeply regrets the incident and the poor decision she made. She was considering the best interests of the gentleman she was caring for.’
No other vehicles were involved and no one was hurt. Advocate Roscuet said: ‘When Miss Sorhaindo got out of the car she called the police and was open and co-operative with them.’
Mrs Shaw said: ‘People who haven’t taken the test are more likely to have accidents. You should not have taken it upon yourself to drive up a public road when you are not qualified to do so.’
She imposed a £200 fine for driving without L-plates and £600 for driving unsupervised.
