113mph driver is spared a ban (From South Wales Guardian)

113mph driver is spared a ban

1:30pm Thursday 26th April 2012 in News

A MOTORIST clocked at 113mph on a notorious stretch of the A48 at Cwmgwili has escaped a driving ban – even though magistrates admitted the speed at which he was travelling was “off the guidelines scale”.

Carmarthen court heard that disqualification would lead to Lee-John Gregory losing his job as project manager for an electrical installation company.

Dad-of-two Gregory, 32, said he had been rushing home after learning that his partner had been taken ill during pregnancy.

The defendant, of 101 Eringden, Wilnecote, Tamworth, was fined £700 and ordered to pay £60 costs along with a £15 victims’ surcharge after pleading guilty to speeding between Cwmgwili and the Bristol House layby on the morning of August 14. His licence was endorsed with six penalty points.

Prosecutor Gerald Neave said Gregory had been clocked at 113mph by a laser gun at 8.40am – 43mph over the limit.

“My partner had been taken ill during pregnancy,” Gregory told the court. “I knew my son was going to have complications and I just wanted to get home as soon as possible.”

He added that the baby had subsequently undergone open heart surgery and “not having a car should any emergency arise would obviously be quite detrimental to me”.

Addressing the defendant, magistrates revealed the speed he had attained was “off the guidelines scale as regards terms of disqualification”.

But they added: “Due to the exceptional circumstances, we have decided not to disqualify you, but to put six penalty points on your licence.”