A woman has appeared in court after she refused to return the hire car given to her when her own vehicle was stolen.
Lorraine Dennison pleaded guilty to charges of driving a vehicle taken without the owner’s consent and using it without insurance.
Kirklees Magistrates’ Court heard that On November 14 she was supplied with a courtesy car by Bradley-based firm Alton Cars Ltd.
Her own Ford Fiesta had suffered extensive damage after being stolen and crashed during a police chase.
The 59-year-old’s insurance company the Co-op had arranged this and later had her car written- off.
Dennison, of North Street in Birstall, was then informed by the company that courtesy Vauxhall Corsa had to be returned and if she failed to do so then she would be driving it without insurance.
Alton Cars arranged for the vehicle to be collected on December 7 but staff were unable to contact her and she failed to answer her door to them.
After several more attempts were made to retrieve the car and police were called.
Bob Carr, mitigating, said that the insurance company decided to write off his client’s car and she took issue with having to hand back her hire car without funds being given to her to purchase a new vehicle.
He told magistrates: “She felt she could retain the vehicle and that she would be insured.
“We’ve all dealt with insurance companies and know how extremely difficult it can be.
“She believed she’d done nothing wrong but it is one of those cases where it’s a strict liability offence.”
Magistrates gave Dennison a conditional discharge for six months.
