Whatman made successful applications in Albury Local Court to have habitual traffic offender declarations against her quashed on four offences of being a suspended driver.

She was caught four times by police in May and June last year and ultimately received a suspended jail term when sentenced.

Magistrate Megan Greenwood imposed a driving ban until November 11 next year.

NSW Roads and Maritime Services gave an extra five years for each of the offences through her being a habitual offender, with her ban extended until 2036.

Whatman made appli- cations to have the finding quashed and told magistrate Tony Murray: “I did not understand the seriousness of my offences.”

Whatman, 22, of Woomera Crescent, is the mother of three young children and said she had problems with having available transport.

Mr Murray said Whatman had been caught four times in a short period for being a suspended driver.

“Every time I drove I got caught,” she said.

Mr Murray said an additional 20-year driving ban would be harsh and oppressive when quashing the declaration.

But Whatman was sentenced for two other offences of driving when suspended and negligent driving from an incident at McDonalds in Lavington between 9.10pm and 9.20pm on April 21 last year.

Whatman ran into the back of a utility at the drive-through and failed to give particulars to the other driver.

Police spoke to her on September 30 and she denied hitting the ute.

“He’s clearly reversed into a pole. Insurance doesn’t cover people who run into poles,” she said.

A check by police revealed Whatman was issued with a driving suspension notice little more than two hours before the accident.

She defended the charges in a hearing before Mr Murray, but was found guilty.

Mr Murray convicted her, imposed a $300 fine for negligent driving and a $500 fine for driving when suspended.

Whatman was disqualified for a further three years, extending her ban to November 11, 2019.

Mr Murray said she was at grave risk of going to jail if she was caught driving before her disqualification expired.