Mum with over 100 convictions admits driving allegations

Mum with over 100 convictions admits driving allegations

15 April 2015

A MUM of five from Newcastle with a string of criminal convictions appeared back in court yesterday.

Zoe Lynn Pearson (34), who has 118 previous offences on her record including 36 for driving while disqualified, appeared at Downpatrick Crown Court where she admitted to once more driving while banned and without insurance. 

Pearson, who once carried out an armed robbery at a post office, was stopped in her Renault Clio by police on the Tullybrannigan Road in Newcastle on February 26.

Back in February Pearson escaped jail on similar offences after the court heard she was “trying to turn her life around”. 

On this occasion she received an 18 month sentence prison suspended for two years for driving while disqualified and was banned from driving for five years. She also received concurrent sentences of three months for driving with no insurance and obstructing a police officer.

The court heard how PSNI officers stopped her on the Doagh Road in Newtownabbey in December 2013 behind the wheel of a Vauxhall Zafira people carrier.

She twice gave a policeman false names — firstly Lisa Carberry and then Lynne Carberry.

But police discovered her true identity and that she been disqualified in 2011 for four years for being a banned driver and in 2010 for five years for the same offence.

Asked by police why she was driving, Pearson replied: “I thought my driving disqualification was up.”

At the time a defence solicitor said Pearson had recently been diagnosed with suffering from multiple sclerosis and asked the judge not to send her to prison despite her criminal record as she has four children under the age of six and also a 12-year-old child.

“She is absolutely fearful that if she goes to prison her children will be taken into care,” the solicitor said. “She is out of a relationship that was getting her into trouble and she is trying to turn her life around. I would urge the court to give her one last opportunity to show that she can care for her children and stay out of trouble.”

The judge said he was deeply concerned about Pearson’s lengthy criminal record, particularly 79 offences for driving matters. However, he said the most positive aspect for him was that Pearson had not been in trouble since April 2014.

“It seems a suspended sentence hanging over your head since December 2013 appears to have worked,” he said. “You now have substantial family responsibilities, but you can’t keep using them as get out of jail cards, or keep out of jail cards.”

In 2003, Pearson’s sentence for armed robbery at a post office in Drumaroad was increased to three-and-a-half years after senior judges said her original sentence of 27 months was “unduly lenient”.

The judges were told that in March 2002 a man entered the post office wearing a white dust mask over his face, and that Pearson, who later entered the post office wearing a mask, was his accomplice.

The male robber struck the postmaster on the head with the gun and threatened to shoot him if a police officer entered the premises. The customers in the shop were herded behind the counter and forced to lie or crouch behind it, including a woman and her two young grandchildren. The court heard Pearson did not take an active part in the violence.

The pair escaped with cash and goods worth £5,160 in a van which had been driven to the scene by Pearson.

No bail application was made following the arraignment at Downpatrick Crown Court yesterday and Pearson remains in custody ahead of her sentencing later this month.