GERMAN businessman Thomas Dressler voiced concern that he had to go to court for a speeding offence just because his driving licence was "foreign".

The 38-year-old pleaded guilty to exceeding the 30mph speed limit at Wycombe Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

But Dressler, of Templars Place, in Marlow, told the court he thought it was "unfair" that just because he was German and had a foreign passport he had to go to court over the matter.

Clerk to the court, Nigel Rennell, read out a statement saying that Dressler had been driving his VW Passat at 38mph in a 30mph in Marlow when he was caught by a speed camera.

He told the court that motorists with a UK driving licence could apply for the fixed penalty procedure but those without could not follow the same procedure.

Dressler, defending himself, said: "I admit I made a mistake. I had a new car when I came to the country and I never before had such a powerful car.

"However there is no excuse. I was speeding, therefore I understand that you will penalise me."

He added: "But I would like to know why I have been treated differently."

He said that he was told that for a speeding offence motorists were usually fined £60 and given three points on their licence, without having to go to court.

Dressler said: "I do not know why it had to be different for me.

"I want to know what I have to do to avoid the same situation in future so I get the same treatment as everyone else in the circumstances."

He said he had been living in the UK since 1992 or 1993 and had at that time owned a UK driving licence but then thought that because of the European Union it was no longer necessary to hold one.

However, the clerk explained that people with foreign licences in the UK had to come to court to take an oath to check for previous convictions.

Dressler told the court on oath that he had no previous motoring convictions and no fixed penalty tickets in the last four years.

Chairman of the magistrates Alan Frost said that there would be no order for costs but Dressler would have to pay a fine of £60 and have his licence endorsed with three penalty points.