Taking a sick puppy for treatment resulted in a suspended prison sentence for a banned driver.

Trudi Bernadette Fisher, of Cresselly, pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified when she appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates on Tuesday, February 5.

Prosecutor Vaughan Pritchard-Jones said Fisher, 51, who was disqualified from driving in September following a drink-drive conviction, was stopped by police in her Peugeot 308 on the A477 at Milton because of a defective brake light on December 29.

When arrested, Fisher admitted that she was aware she should not have been driving, adding that she was taking a poorly puppy to the vet, and had no other way of transporting the animal.

Mike Kelleher, defending, told the court that Fisher lived in an isolated area with no public transport, adding that she had lost her job as a result of her driving ban.

“She had a very ill puppy and it needed treatment.”

Mr Kelleher added that the offence was committed on the weekend before the vets were due to close for New Year.

“She is a dog lover, and felt that if she had not done so the puppy might have been in significant pain, or might have died. It was a risk she took.”

Magistrates sentenced Fisher to eight weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months and ordered her to complete 150 hours of unpaid work.

She was banned from driving for 12 months and ordered to pay £85 costs plus a £115 surcharge.

The chairman of the bench said: “You had driven a long way and it was very shortly after the ban was imposed.”