A PENSIONER has lost his licence after average speed cameras clocked him breaking a 50mph limit.

Michael Pearson, of Danby Avenue in Old Whittington, Chesterfield, appeared at Wrexham Magistrates Court on Wednesday morning.

The 78-year-old, who represented himself, had pleaded guilty prior to the hearing to one offence of speeding.

Alun Williams, prosecuting, told the court that on February 23, Pearson drove a Ford Transit minibus on the A494 eastbound between Deeside Industrial Park and Garden City.

The limit in that area is 50mph - but average speed cameras calculated the defendant's average speed to be 59mph.

Mr Williams told the court Pearson already had nine points on his licence - three points imposed for each of his three previous speeding offences.

As such, with the court looking to impose a further three for the latest offence (which would take him to 12 and mean a ban), he advanced an exceptional hardship application in the hope of keeping his licence.

Pearson told the court he operates a coach company and also drives a coach.

He claimed that should he lose his licence, his work would cease and the one person working for him would be impacted.

Pearson also told the court his wife is disabled and relies heavily on his assistance to get to hospital and medical appointments.

"She is very bad at walking," he explained.

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"And she has numerous things wrong with her.

"She has quite a few hospital appointments and obviously I take her - she can't go on her own."

Pearson said while he still works, he is also in receipt of a pension.

The Magistrates did not agree the defendants' reasons passed the high bar of exceptional hardship, and as such three penalty points were handed down and a driving ban of six months was imposed.

Pearson must pay £110 costs, a £40 fine and £16 victim surcharge for the offence.