A Shirley mother-of-two fooled police into thinking her car had been stolen after she crashed it on her way home from a Christmas party.

Karen Andrews, from Greenview Avenue, wasted police time when she falsely reported the theft of her Suzuki Vitara after smashing it into a parked car around the corner from her home.

Andrews, 41, crashed her car and then walked home without leaving her details for the owner on December 21 last year.

Just before 8am she told officers at South Norwood police station her car had been stolen, Croydon magistrates heard last Friday (February 1).

But 12 hours later she changed her mind, admitting the allegations were false and was arrested.

Keen to admit her guilt and be sentenced without wasting more time, a smartly-dressed Andrews was unrepresented by a solicitor, but she was strongly advised to seek legal help.

Continuing in the afternoon, duty solicitor Hamish Young told the court she had previous good character.

Mr Young said: "My client has not been in trouble before.

"It is something which has worried her a great deal and had hung over her for the whole of Christmas."

He also said Andrews is on income support and a fine would hit her children in the pocket more than her suggesting a community penalty would be better.

But magistrates fined her £150 and told her to pay £55 towards the cost of the prosecution.