A WOMAN who blamed the stress of the pandemic for her being caught speeding twice in a month has been banned from driving.

Lisa Lack, 46, from Winton, was clocked in her brand new Audi doing 41mph in a 30mph zone and then 49mph in a 40mph zone four weeks later.

On both occasions she was on her way to work as an orthopaedic and trauma service manager.

She said her speed 'got away' from her as she was rushing between hospital sites and was stressed and working long hours.

The mother-of-two already had six points on her licence for two previous incidents of speeding in January 2019 and October 2020.

A further seven points were added to it for the two new offences in January 2021, taking her over the 12 points that usually triggers an automatic ban.

Mrs Lack argued in court that a disqualification would cause her exceptional hardship.

She said her job with Dorset NHS Foundation Trust was very demanding and it required her being at different hospital sites to organise staff.

She said she was also the primary carer for her mother and takes her to doctor and hospital appointments as well as shopping.

Ian Morrell, defending, said: "She works for the NHS and was travelling to work on both occasions. Her speed got away from her due to the trauma of what was going on with lockdown and the stress of that."

Mrs Lack added: "I'm a service manager so I coordinate clinicians to different areas. Often I didn't know which site I would be working at and would get that call in the morning.

"I was rushing about, trying to get to work and make sure all our patients remain safe, I wasn't thinking."

Weymouth Magistrates' Court heard Mrs Lack has worked for the NHS for 31 years.

In a letter her boss, John West, described her as 'honest, hardworking and reliable' and said she had worked incredibly long hours during Covid between Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch hospitals.

He said it would be impossible for her to carry out her role as a senior manager and leader without her driving licence.

But presiding magistrate Callum Bremner said they did not agree her case met the criteria for exceptional circumstances.

He told the defendant: "We acknowledge that you have got an important role and you have said this would have a huge impact on your mum, but given all the information we do not believe on this occasion that it passes the threshold for exceptional hardship, it's a very high bar."

The magistrates gave Mrs Lack a £532 fine for the two speeding offences and seven points on her licence, as well as £163 costs to pay.

She was banned from driving for six months.