A former star of reality TV series Big Brother has appeared in court after she smashed into another car whilst driving with no motor insurance.
Vanessa Layton-MacIntosh, who became the seventh housemate to be booted off last year's show, was fined a total of £200 and given six penalty points, meaning that even a specialist women's car insurance provider may now struggle to find her a cheap car insurance deal.
The 20-year-old appeared at Croydon Magistrates' Court where it emerged she had rammed into the back of BMW whilst driving an S-reg VW Golf. The car belonged to her aunt and the ex-TV star claimed she thought she was insured to drive the vehicle.
She said, "I thought I was covered but my insurance had expired. I only found this out during a conversation with my aunt after the accident.
"I had my insurance reinstated at once and offered to compensate the other driver in full."
The former business studies student, who now makes a living from opening shops and appearing at nightclubs, added, "I can't believe I've got six points. I'm going to have to be really careful from now on.
"I do regret driving without insurance but everyone makes mistakes and I won't do it again."
A spokesman from CoverGirl Car Insurance Services, the expert women's car insurance providers, commented, "Ignorance is no excuse and, as we've seen here, the courts won't take any excuses.
"I reckon Vanessa will have to search pretty hard to find a cheap car insurance quote now."
For more information about Big Brother check out www.channel4.com.