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Big bother for Vanessa after accident lands her in court
May 12 2006

EX-BIG BROTHER house-mate Vanessa Layton-MacIntosh has been prosecuted after a road smash revealed she was driving without insurance.

The 20-year-old was behind the wheel of an S-reg Volkswagon Golf when she rammed into the back of a BMW as she went through the Croydon underpass.

She had just collected two Channel 4 staff from East Croydon Station who were filming her for a documentary when the crash happened.

Croydon magistrates heard on Monday that the car belonged to her aunt who was away on holiday at the time of the accident in October last year.

Vanessa, who pleaded guilty the offence, did not attend the hearing but, in a statement read out by a legal adviser, admitted she had failed to check she could legally drive.


She said: "I thought I was covered but my insurance had expired.


"I only found this out during a conversation with my aunt after the accident.


"I had my insurance reinstated at once and offered to compensate the other driver in full."


Presiding magistrate Sue Duncan fined Vanessa £130 for driving without insurance and £70 towards the costs of bringing the case to court.


She also slapped six points on her driving licence meaning further offences could see her disqualified from driving altogether.


The Advertiser broke the news of her punishment to a shocked Vanessa shortly afterwards.


She said: "I can't believe I've got six points. I'm going to have to be really careful from now on.


"I'm really sorry for the people I crashed into because their kid was crying and it was scary for them.


"Thankfully no one was injured. They were just real-ly angry and started yelling at me.


"I do regret driving without insurance but everyone makes mistakes and I won't do it again. My lawyers have sorted out the compensation.


"It was really embarrassing because I had just picked up a film crew from E4.


"When I went down the underpass I thought I had enough time to stop but I didn't and went into the back of the car. The damage was pretty bad. The front of my car was all smashed in and the back of theirs."


The university student, from Thornhill Road, Croydon, hit the headlines last year when she became the seventh person to be booted out of the Big Brother house.


Afterwards she announced she was taking a year off from her business studies course at Brunel University to concentrate on building a showbiz career.


She has since made a living through guest appearances at shops and nightclubs and treated herself to a brand new MG in December.


The seventh series of the hit reality TV show is due to start on Channel 4 on Thursday with a new set of housemates desperate for fame.


In the latest twist, a random member of the public will win a place in the house by finding one of 100 golden tickets hidden in chocolate bars across the country.

icSouthLondon