Teenager spared ban after being clocked at 72mph on a 40mph rural Northumberland road

They told Joe Scott, 19, his actions on the B6318 in Northumberland, had been “bloody stupid”.

But they did not disqualify the Northumbrian Water worker after hearing he could not do his job at Kielder without a licence.

Scott appeared in court to admit flooring his 2009-plate Renault at 8.07am on Sunday, October 13 last year.

He was clocked by a static speed camera on a 150m-long stretch where the road slows from a higher speed.

Defending himself, Scott told magistrates in South Tyneside he would be unable to carry out his maintenance work duties if banned.

He said he lived 41 miles from his workplace at Kielder and the only bus service stopped 13 miles away at Bellingham.

And he claimed he could not afford the daily taxi fare, and there were no work colleagues to catch a lift from, with the nearest living 10 miles from his home.

Scott, who admitted a charge of speeding at a previous hearing, appeared at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court to plead to keep his licence.

He said: “There’s no excuse for the speed recorded. It was a very poor lapse of judgement.

“I’ve a contract offer from my place of work, which is maintenance of commercial properties in Kielder.

“I live 41 miles away, and losing my licence would mean that I couldn’t get to work. If I were to lose my job, I’d lose part of my career.

“It was bang out of order. I don’t know what else I can say, I’m really sorry.

“It says in my offer of employment that I must have a full, valid UK driving licence.”

Keith Suddards, chair of the bench, told Scott, who could have been from between seven and 56 days: “Seventy-two in a forty zone, that’s way over. It’s bloody stupid.”

Scott, of Police Houses, Haltwhistle, who has no other points on his licence, was handed six penalty points and fined £299 and must pay £85 court costs and a £32 victim surcharge.

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