A woman who was caught driving without a licence for the 24th time escaped jail time today.
A WOMAN who was caught driving without a licence for the 24th time escaped jail time today.
Narelle Doolan, 39, appeared in Ballarat Magistrates Court this morning, pleading guilty to unlicensed driving.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Steve Kent said Doolan was most recently caught driving along York Street on October 11 last year at 3.55am.
She was unlicensed at the time and made full admissions to not having a valid licence.
Defence lawyer Mike Wardell admitted his client had 23 prior unlicensed driving offences, but said she had not breached a previous suspended sentence that was imposed on her.
In sentencing, Magistrate Michelle Hodgson noted Doolan had obeyed her previous suspended sentence for unlicensed driving and said the punishment seemed to work while it was imposed.
"You could easily have gone to jail tonight," Ms Hodgson said.
"It seems the suspended sentences are enough to keep you from getting behind the wheel."
Doolan received a 14-day suspended sentence, suspended for six months.