Matters against Katrina Margaret King, 37, of Carroll Avenue, Cessnock, were dealt with by visiting magistrate Ellis in Bathurst Local Court.

King was charged with driving with a licence that had expired two or more years before and two counts of driving a motor vehicle while suspended (second plus offence).

Her solicitor, Ken Lambeth, said on one of the occasions, his client was on her way to visit an inmate at Bathurst Jail, and was unaware her licence had expired.

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He said for the latter charge of driving while suspended, which occurred on Boxing Day, his client was trying to get to Cessnock because her ex-partner, a perpetrator of domestic violence against her, had turned up at her sister's house and started harassing his client.

"She was trying to lead him away to protect her sister," he said.

He said his client is now looking after her sister and has since sold the car and has no access to other vehicles.

He said his client was very sorry and acknowledged what she had done "was very stupid". He also said the pre-sentence report spoke favourably of her.

For the first offence, licence expired two years or more, King was convicted, but with no other penalty imposed.

On the first count of driving a vehicle while her licence was suspended, second plus offence, she was imprisoned for nine months, starting March 23, 2020, to be served as an intensive correction order in the community. She was also ordered to perform 50 hours of community service and was disqualified from holding a driver's licence for nine months, from March 23, 2020.

On the second charge of driving a vehicle while her licence was suspended, second plus offence, King was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 10 months to commence March 23, 2020, also to be served within the community, and disqualified from driving for 10 months.