A woman has been fined after admitting driving without a licence or insurance.

Plainita Anghel was stopped by police when she entered a petrol garage on Sewardstone Road, Chingford, on September 30.

The unemployed woman was driving a Renault Scenic on the forecourt when police pulled her over to check the vehicle.

Miss Anghel, 31, appeared in the dock with a translator.

She told Thames Magistrates on Friday she was on her way to get medical help for her brother so was forced to drive.

She said: “That day my brother was not feeling well. I had to take him to hospital. That is why I was driving and I apologise for that.

“I am very sorry.”

Sentencing, chair of the magistrates panel, C Smalling said: “You have no right to get on the road when you have got no driving licence firstly and secondly you have got no insurance.

“If you had an accident nobody would have been able to claim off of you.

“It is all very well saying sorry now but you committed a criminal offence and you are going to be punished for it.”

Anghel of Kings Head Hill, Chingford was fined a total of £305 and received eight penalty points on the license.