A Billericay woman discovered her boyfriend was driving her car while he was disqualified - after he tried to kill himself behind the wheel.

Leigh Ann Howell, 32, of The Warren in Billericay, knew boyfriend Sean Curson, been disqualified from driving after crashing her father's Range Rover.

However the court heard, he had told her that an 18 month ban for the offence had ended.

Magistrates in Basildon heard Curson, of Anson Close, Shoebury, went to collect a Chinese takeaway in her BMW.

They had both agreed he should take the car.

While out, Curson became depressed and decided to try and take his own life - by smashing into the railway station car park wall in Radford Way, Billericay.

Howell admitted aiding and abetting driving while disqualified and permitting someone to drive her car without insurance, because although she was told her boyfriend's ban had ended, she had not taken reasonable measures to ensure this was true.

She was fined a total of £250 with six penalty points and £40 costs.

Curson admitted driving while disqualified, having no insurance and careless driving. His case was adjourned until June 21 for pre-sentence reports

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