Amy Smith caught driving Mercedes while disqualified at Sainsbury's

Amy Smith, of Willis Place, Worcester, committed the offence in May just weeks after being handed a suspended jail sentence. 

Smith said "Oh no" as a dock officer closed the dock door and it dawned on her she would not escape jail this time. 

Mark Hambling, prosecuting, explained Smith was given the suspended sentence for driving while disqualified earlier this year. 

Just a month later, on May 17, an off duty officer recognised Smith and the Mercedes SLK200 she was in as he had been the one to arrest her previously.

Smith pulled into Sainsbury's car park in Swanpool Walk, St John's, Worcester.

OFFENCE: Amy Smith committed the offence at Sainsbury's (Image: Newsquest)

"He takes the keys from the lady and calls the police," Mr Hambling said. 

Mr Hambling said the offence was aggravated by Smith's two previous convictions for driving while disqualified.

Amarjit Singhara, defending, said the defendant was aware she had put herself in a difficult position and custody was a possibility.

He said: "She was suffering severe tooth pain at the time.

"She drove to pick up some pain relief from Sainsbury's."

He said Smith had made "full and frank admissions" straight away during a roadside interview with police.

Mr Singhara added Smith had complied with all the requirements of her suspended sentence order and had sold the Mercedes to prevent her from committing further offences.

While Singhara mitigated Smith had her head in her hands in the dock. 

Magistrates left the courtroom for more than 30 minutes for their deliberations and on returning chairman of the bench, Kevin Lloyd-Wright, told the court the offence was so serious only immediate custody was suitable. 

"It was committed so soon (after the previous offence) - a matter of a few weeks," Mr Lloyd-Wright added. 

Smith was jailed for a total of 16 weeks. 

Smith was disqualified from driving for 27 months being given the warning again about driving while disqualified. 

The defendant was ordered to pay £154 victim surcharge but no costs were ordered. 

Smith sobbed as she was taken down by dock officers.