A MAN who was caught speeding on the Ilminster Bypass has been allowed to continue driving despite totting up 12 points on his licence.

David James Radford was clocked driving at 77mph in a 50mph limit in what he described as “a momentary lapse of concentration”.

When he appeared before Somerset Magistrates at Yeovil he admitted he had made a mistake and said that the loss of his licence would cause exceptional hardship.

He said: “I have let myself and my family down and I am worried about the repercussions for them as I have to drive for my job and to lose my licence could mean the loss of my job and my home.”

Radford, 49, of Leighton Road, Paignton, pleaded guilty to exceeding the speed limit on the A303 Ilminster Bypass on January 21.

The court was also told that the defendant currently had six penalty points on his licence as a result of a previous speeding offence last year.

After hearing that Radford’s wife suffered from anxiety and he also had to help care for their children the magistrates endorsed his licence with a further six points but said he could continue to drive after finding he would suffer exceptional hardship if they disqualified him.

Alongside the points they fined him £230 with £85 costs and a £23 victim surcharge.