Amanda Lee Duggan before Coffs Harbour court driving without a licence again

A repeat offender tested the patience of the Coffs Harbour magistrate: “I know some people walk out of here without hearing a word I’ve said.” See what got him worked up.

Amanda Duggan was caught driving without a licence three times in January.

A mother who was recently diagnosed with cancer got behind the wheel again without a licence, Coffs Harbour Local Court heard on Monday.

Amanda Lee Duggan was back before Magistrate Ian Rodgers for driving without a licence on February 24, just weeks after appearing before him for three counts of the same offence.

“You’re on a slippery slope, Ms Duggan,” Mr Rodgers warned.

“Some magistrates would send you to jail for this.

“Don’t be one of those people who go to jail over something like this.”

The 41-year-old was last before Mr Rodgers on January 31 for driving without a licence on three separate occasions in the space of a few weeks.

She was detected on January 7 and 13.

Ms Duggan posted about it on Facebook on January 13 writing: “Just got done again 🤦 anyone wanna buy a cheap car??” and posted a photo of her court attendance notice.

But then she was in trouble again – being picked up behind the wheel without a licence for a third time just 10 days later.

On January 31, she pleaded guilty to driving without a licence on three separate occasions.

For the first two offences she was fined $440 and disqualified from driving for three months but no conviction was recorded.

For the third offence she was disqualified from driving for four months and convicted and sentenced to a nine-month community correction order.

The court heard Ms Duggan had been battling cancer and undergoing treatment. She had lost her job and associated accommodation after the diagnosis and had been forced to live in a caravan park.

During her most recent court appearance Mr Rodgers pleaded with her to change her behaviour.

“You’ve got to stop.”

For the latest offence of driving without a licence she was fined $550 and convicted and sentenced to a community correction order for a period of 12 months.

She was ordered to perform 100 hours of community service work and disqualified from holding a driver‘s/rider’s licence for six months from March 21.