Wiltshire | Archive | 2007 | August | 20
From the The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald, first published Monday 20th Aug 2007.
A warrant has been issued to get a 36-year-old woman accused of obtaining driving lessons by deception to court.
Gina Chippett, of The Brittox, Devizes, was due at Swindon Crown Court today after pleading not guilty to three counts of deception two months ago.
But she failed to turn up and Judge Douglas Field issued a warrant, but allowed her to have bail to appear before him on Friday.
Anna Midgley, defending, said her client was aware of the hearing but had not attended the court. She said the only possible explanation she could give for her absence was that she was currently signed off work with anxiety and pregnancy.
Chippett, she said, was about four months pregnant when she last saw her in late June, making her about six months now.
The defendant is said to have paid for lessons with three instructors using cheques which she knew or suspected would not be honoured.
All of the offences are said to have taken place over a six and a half week period towards the end of summer 2005.
She is accused of obtaining lessons from Grenville Dunford, Alan Dewfall and Francis Angell, by deception between August 1 and September 15.
Chippett pleaded not guilty to the three charges when she appeared at Swindon Crown Court in June.
© Newsquest Media Group 2008