Tearful Helen Flanagan makes shock confession in court - 'I'm struggling'

Former Coronation Street star Helen Flanagan was left in tears as she opened up on her financial situation while in court as she was hit with a driving ban for six months

Helen Flanagan was in tears as she appeared in court and opened up on her financial woes.

The former Coronation Street actress, 34, was disqualified from driving for six months after her Audi was caught speeding twice in 16 days. She attended Wirral Magistrates’ Court today alongside her boyfriend Robbie Talbot and was charged with failing to give information relating to the identification of the driver of a vehicle.

She had allegedly not responded to police notices asking her to identify who was driving her Audi Q7 at the times it was caught speeding on July 10 and July 26 in the Liverpool area. Helen cut a glamourous figure in an all black ensemble as she tried to keep her licence on the grounds of "exceptional hardship".

The mum-of-three told the court: "I’m a single mum, I live on my own. I live in the middle of the moors. There’s no shop nearby. I think it’s a 10 minute drive. It is very remote. I live there with my three children." When asked about public transport, Helen said: "It’s difficult. I find it very difficult. I would really struggle without a car with my children anyway. It’s really remote. You can’t just go and get some bread or milk.

"Nursery is really important for my little boy. I’m a single mum, so it gives me a bit of a break. It’s a bit of a drive to get there. The only way I would be able to get him to nursery is by Uber. That would be very expensive. I’m really struggling at the moment financially." She also told the court how she attends therapy sessions in Birmingham for her post-natal depression, anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder.

Helen explained how she did not find remote video calls with her therapist "effective as face to face". "She really helps me. I drive every eight weeks or every few months, whenever I’m struggling with my mental health I go and see Liz. It really helps me. It is a drive. I have to drive from Bolton to Birmingham. I do struggle with anxiety. I have terrible OCD. It does really impact my life in general."

The TV star opened up on her current financial situation as she said: "My job really is being a mummy at home. Their dad works away. I earn money on social media, but it kind of varies really what I earn. I used to earn quite well from it, but I haven’t done so well the past year. I think it’s just what happens sometimes. It's just what happens really."

She also drives to meet the father of her children, Scott Sinclair, at a service station between their two homes. "It’s really important to my children to see their dad," she told the court. "It would be impossible for me to get a driver. It would be far too expensive. My boyfriend doesn’t have a car. It would be very difficult for me to get there. I would hate to put a burden on my parents. They’re in their late 60s. It’s a little bit difficult for me to talk about."

Helen appeared to become tearful as she added: "My brother has really bad mental health. They had to fly out to Bangkok to see him, where he lives." Her claim of exceptional hardship was rejected and the magistrates panel banned her from driving for six months. She was also fined £2,000 and told to pay an £800 victim surcharge plus court costs of £110.

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