A CHARD businessman has been given a nine-month driving ban after driving into the rear of another vehicle during heavy roadworks in Yeovil.

Tim Northcott was driving along Reckleford towards the hospital roundabout when he collided with a Toyota Aygo car in front of him.

However when he appeared before Somerset Magistrates they were told the 63-year-old, of Crimchard, already had nine points on his licence from three previous speeding offences.

Northcott admitted driving without due care and attention at Yeovil on March 15 when he appeared before Somerset Magistrates. The court was told that Northcott did not judge the amount of space correctly and collided with the rear of the Aygo after not stopping in time.

The defendant said that the traffic was constantly stopping and starting over a stretch of 300 yards and he admitted going into the rear of the car in front.

“The roadworks had been going on for some months and an ambulance coming through might have distracted me,” he said.

He asked the court to consider allowing him to keep his licence as a ban would make it difficult for him to run his business in Yeovil and put forward an argument of exceptional hardship.

Magistrates reduced the 12-month disqualification down to nine and fined him £105 and ordered him to pay £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.