A WORCESTER woman getting her life back on track after being depressed and turning to drugs was caught driving an uninsured car after buying it to use its wheels.

Paula Harrison bought the Vauxhall Cavalier in September last year.

Wheels from her Vauxhall Astra had previously been stolen.

Yesterday Droitwich magistrates heard Harrison admit to driving without insurance or an MOT certificate, and with a defective tyre.

A charge of driving other than in accordance with her licence was dropped after a DVLA mix-up.

Thirty-four-year-old Harrison was stopped by police on Friday, September 29 last year as she drove on the A38 at Droitwich.

Police officers issued her with a vehicle defect form to allow her to repair the fault without prosecution.

The mother-of-three was also asked to produce her documents, but she failed to do either.

"This offence occurred because she owned an Astra, which was fully insured," said Richard Wilkes, defending.

"But the wheels had been stolen from it. She bought the Cavalier for its wheels and drove it for a day. She realises she shouldn't have done it."

Harrison, of Teme Road, Tolladine, who works in a supermarket warehouse, was said to be getting her life back on track.

Mr Wilkes told magistrates that in 1999 she had been happily married with three children.

"She thought everything was fine," he said. "Very unexpectedly her husband left her."

Harrison could not cope with the pressure of bringing up her children and holding down a full-time job.

Her husband won custody and she spiralled into depression, turning to drugs out of desperation.

A string of thefts followed but she had now turned her back on crime, the court heard.

"She's since realised how low she had sunk," said Mr Wilkes.

"She has been, and hopes to be a law-abiding citizen."

Harrison was fined a total of £210 plus £55 costs.

Nine points were endorsed on her licence and she was banned from driving for nine months under the totting up procedure.