A HEREFORDSHIRE speeder has escaped a roads ban after he was repeatedly caught breaking the limit due to his unusual job.

Michael Peter Gardiner appeared before magistrates in Somerset for sentencing after he was convicted of five offences at an earlier hearing.

The court heard the 52-year-old had failed to give information relating to the identification of the driver of a vehicle who was alleged to have been guilty of an offence to police in Staffordshire on December 29.

He had also been caught speeding in a 70 miles per hour zone on the M5 in Gloucestershire on January 12, the court heard, in a 60 miles per hour variable speed limit zone on the M5 on January 20, and in a 60 miles per hour variable speed limit on the M5 in Gloucestershire on January 21.

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He had further driven a vehicle on the M6 in Staffordshire while in such a position that he could not have proper control of his car on February 5, magistrates were told.

Gardiner, who is of Gloucester Road, Ross-on-Wye, was fined £1,000 and received 18 penalty points for the offences. He was also ordered to pay costs of £90 and a £100 victim surcharge.

No totting disqualification was made because, magistrates said. the loss of licence would have a detrimental impact on a family member with dementia, and as he is in unique employment, as only one of five gold gilt decorators in the country.

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