A Locks Heath woman who had been banned from driving less than three months ago was spotted by police behind the wheel of her car leaving the car park next to Fareham Police Station.
And when officers in a marked police car with blue lights flashing and siren sounding tried to pull April Robin Pickett over she ignored them and carried on driving until she was eventually cornered in a dead end.
Pickett, 37, Knottgrass Road, was arrested and taken to Fareham Police Station where she was searched and a quantity of cocaine, a Class A drug, was discovered in her possession.
Pickett had been seen on December 30 driving her Ford Focus car in the Quay Street roundabout – the police station looks out across the car park – by officers who then pursued her along Western Way and The Avenue until she stopped at the Redlands Lane traffic lights. As a police officer approached the car she drove off when the traffic lights turned green.
She eventually turned into a cul-de-sac and was arrested by police.
Michael Gallagher, defending, said Pickett had “made the silly mistake” of driving herself to work in Fareham because she had no money and no other way of getting there.
When she left work her rear window was blurred and she did not realise it was police behind her, but thought it was an ambulance. When she realised it was police, said Mr Gallagher, she did not think it was her that they were after.
“There was no indication that her driving was erratic or that she was trying to get away,” said Mr Gallagher.
The police searched her following her arrest and she was found to be in possession of cocaine.
She pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified, failing to stop for the police and possessing cocaine.
Magistrates decided to adjourn sentencing to February 8. Pickett was remanded on unconditional bail.