The court heard she already had nine points on her licence, from three speeding offences in June 2023 and then June and July 2025. "It's very, very solitary and I work exceptionally hard and I would just stop." Giving evidence, La Plante said she got her dog Theo after suffering the devastation of the untimely death of another dog, Hugo. Fighting back tears, she said she "lost it" when Hugo died and she "didn't know what to do with [her] life". She added her new dog had helped her through the grieving process.