A FORMER Hollyoaks star has dodged a driving ban after insisting she needs her £36,000 Audi A6 to take her daughter to school.
Faye Ayres, who once dated England and Chelsea star Ross Barkley, faced a disqualification after she was caught driving without insurance.
But the former Miss Liverpool, 28, was spared by magistrates after claiming she can’t take her four-year-old daughter on public transport as the youngster has a rare form of autism.
Ayres, a single mum of two, broke down in tears in the dock as she told of the hardships her little girl faces.
Sefton Magistrates’ Court heard the child is likely to “disappear” on trips out, and struggles to wear clothes that aren’t her school uniform.
“I can’t really describe the situation because it’s really bad,” Ayres said.
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“She has a diagnosis of autism, learning difficulties and ADHD, but I think there’s something else because she can’t wear clothes.
“She has something extra. I don’t know what it is – I don’t know if it’s more than autism.
“I don’t think anyone else could deal with what I deal with on a daily basis.”
She said that without a car, the family will lose their “freedom”.
“I can’t take my eyes off her,” she said.
”We can’t go to the local play area because she disappears but she likes going in the car. She likes to look around and I feel she’s safe when I’m in the car with her.”
The youngster is driven to a special needs school by her mum three days a week, while transport is provided on the two remaining days.
Ayers, of Woolton in Liverpool, said her insurance was withdrawn without her knowledge after she failed to spot an email asking for a copy of her driving licence.
She was stopped on September 21 last year whilst driving her black S Line model through Sefton village.
Ayres admitted driving without insurance and was fined £120 with £144 in costs and victim surcharges.
She was given six points on her license, taking the tally to 12, but was allowed her to keep her driving licence.
“The bar is very high with exceptional hardship,” chairman of the bench Brian Wilson said.
“We expect people to be inconvenienced because they have lost their licence.
“However, we have decided on this occasion that you have reached that high standard. We are not going to disqualify you from driving today.
“We think that the impact caused to your daughter’s safety and wellbeing would be too great a price to pay.
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“You have to go to hospital appointments. We note that she could not cope with the public transport and so know that would be very difficult for you.”
Faye Ayers saw off 37 competitors to win the Miss Liverpool crown in 2012 aged 18 following which she challenged for Miss England. She starred in Hollyoaks until 2013.
