A former Miss Liverpool has escaped a possible driving ban after being caught with no insurance.
Faye Ayres, who also starred in Hollyoaks, faced disqualification under the totting-up procedure after she was caught driving her Audi without insurance. Ayres, 28, argued that her insurance had been withdrawn without her knowledge after she failed to spot an email asking her to send a copy of her driving licence. She was spared a ban after successfully arguing 'exceptional hardship', telling the court that she needed her car to drive her daughter about, reports the Manchester Evening News.
She claimed she could not take her four-year-old daughter on the bus because she has an audism condition. Appearing at Sefton Magistrates' Court Ayres broke down in tears as she told the hearing how the young child would struggle to wear clothes in public unless it was her school uniform. She also said her daughter would also be likely to "disappear" when out due to her being so hyperactive.
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Addressing the court, Aryes, from Baroncroft Road in Liverpool, said: "I can't really describe the situation, because it's really bad. She has a diagnosis of autism, learning difficulties and ADHD. But I think there is something else because she cannot wear clothes. She has something extra. I do not know what it is - I do not know if it is more than autism. I did not think that anybody else could deal with what I deal with on a daily basis."
"I cannot take my eyes off her. I like to take her to extra-curricular events and my car means we have freedom to go out. We cannot go to the local play area because she disappears, but she likes going in the car. She likes to look around and I feel she is safe when I am in the car with her."
Earlier Ayres, who once challenged for the Miss England title, said that she has dyslexia and failed to spot an email from her insurance company asking for a copy of her driving licence. Her insurance was subsequently withdrawn when she failed to provide the company with a copy of her licence.
Ayres stated that she takes her daughter to a school for children with special educational needs three days a week, with the school providing transport on the other days. She was stopped on September 21 last year while driving her black S Line Audi through Sefton village.
Ayers admitted driving without insurance and was fined £120, with £144 in costs and victim surcharges. She was given six points on her license, taking the tally to 12. She was allowed to keep her licence.
"The bar is very high with exceptional hardship," chairman of the bench Brian Wilson said.
"We expect people to be inconvenienced because they have lost their licence. However, we have decided on this occasion that you have reached that high standard. We are not going to disqualify you from driving today.
"We think that the impact caused to your daughter's safety and wellbeing would be too great a price to pay. You have to go to hospital appointments. We note that she could not cope with the public transport and so know that would be very difficult for you."
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