A WOMAN has been disqualified from driving for 18 months and fined a total of £340 for three counts of drug driving.

Roxanne Amor, of Central Street, Lugershall, pleaded guilty to driving a black Volkswagen Golf on Churchill Way, Andover on March 11 with 200 micrograms of Benzoylecgonine, a by-product of cocaine, in her blood, four times the legal limit.

She was also due to stand trial in November after being stopped in Station Road on February 14 with over the double legal limit of cocaine and four times the limit of Benzoylecgonine in her blood.

Amor had pleaded not guilty to the offences, but when they were brought up in court she changed her pleas to guilty.

“It was believed that the officer did not caution her at the time,” said Ms Russell, defending Amor, about the confusion.

“The defendant was wholly co-operative with the police.”

Ms Russell told Basingstoke Magistrates Court on Thursday morning that Amor had issues with drugs, and that she had been using crack cocaine or heroin for three years.

Amor, who wore a black and white striped shirt and sat upright throughout proceedings, had been managing well until March of last year, when the farm she was working at burnt down and she lost her job.

“She was having a bit of a wobble (at the time of the incidents).”

However, Amor is about to start receiving Universal Credit.

“She seems to be doing everything she could do,” Ms Russell said.

District Judge Pattinson disqualified Amor from driving for 18 months for both times she was stopped, although they will run concurrently.

She was fined £100 for the March 11 incident and £110 for the Valentine’s Day incident.

There was also a £30 victim surcharge and costs of £100.

However, payment would be postponed until she received her first Universal Credit payment, and will be paid in £10 a fortnight instalments.