Susan Eleanora Ashley Barr faced Ipswich Magistrates Court after a “stupid” mistake cost the mum her licence

An Ipswich mum was just one month away from getting her licence back when police busted her behind the wheel while disqualified in a moment of “bad luck.”

A moment of bad luck has cost an Ipswich mum and full time carer her licence for the next two years after she was caught behind the wheel while disqualified from driving.

Susan Eleanora Ashley Barr, 29, pleaded guilty on Friday to driving while disqualified by court order and two charges of failure to appear.

The Ipswich Magistrates Court heard Barr was disqualified from driving by court order from November, 2020 to March, 2021.

However, police caught Barr back behind the wheel in February about a month before she was due to get her licence back.

Police noticed Barr pulling out of a driveway and stopped her, with checks revealing the disqualification.

The court heard Barr was reversing up the driveway to unload a pram and her daughter’s belongings from the car when police drove around the corner and saw her.

Barr failed to appear in court on two occasions in June and July.

Magistrate Dennis Kinsella said Barr was “caught by bad luck”.

“(There is) no grey area … you weren’t entitled to get behind the wheel of a car.”

The court heard Barr knew she had made a “stupid” decision and was remorseful.

The mum-of-two, who is a full time carer for a daughter with Down syndrome, lost her licence for the mandatory disqualification period of two years.

Mr Kinsella also fined Barr $1000 and convictions were recorded.

“If you get behind the wheel of a car for any reason (you’ll) be looking at more than two years and the chance of jail,” he said.

“There is no faster way to go to jail than disqualified driving.

“How will your daughter be if you go to jail?”