Tory Peer Lord Marland Caught Speeding On The M25

Lord Marland (L) & Nick Freeman (R) outside court

Tory peer Lord Jonathan Marland was caught speeding in his Bentley by a police trap as he drove to Heathrow Airport on the M25, a court heard last Friday.

The 65 year-old insurance businessman of Odstock Manor, Odstock, Salisbury, Wiltshire was fined £146, with £110 costs and ordered to pay a £34 victim surcharge.

He pleaded guilty at Lavender Hill Magistrates Court to driving at 55mph in a 40mph zone on June 23, last year and also received three penalty points on his driving licence.

The case was another victory for ‘Mr Loophole’ Nick Freeman who successfully negotiated the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) down from originally charging Lord Marland with driving at 70mph.

The peer already has six points on his licence and a conviction at the higher speed could have attracted more penalty points, triggering an automatic six-month driving ban.

Outside court Lord Marland said he was catching a flight to Gibraltar to open a government office when a police speed trap, positioned on the M25’s hard shoulder, pulled him over.

“I was very reluctant to fly. The covid restrictions had just been lifted and this is what you get for public service,” said the Lord. 

He has served as the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy; Minister for Energy and Climate Change and Business, Innovation and Skills.

Father-of-four Lord Marland was caught on hand-held Pro Laser speed camera and always disputed he was driving at 70mph.

Mr Freeman used images from Google Maps to highlight to the CPS the 40mph speed limit signs were inappropriate for that stretch of motorway.

“Having spoken to the defence representative and seen the poor signage of the road I have agreed to lower the speed. The defendant would not have known the signage was there,” prosecutor Abigail Akano told the court.

Mr Freeman asked the court to simply issue Lord Marland with a fixed penalty. “We are only here because it was originally charged under a different speed.

‘It is unfair the defendant should be prejudiced because of a speed put forward by the Crown.”

When asked about Lord Marland’s income Mr Freeman said: “His would fall amongst the highest bracket. He has not filled out a statement of means.

“The motorway was absolutely deserted and this was a spur road towards Heathrow Airport with no other cars.

“He was not in  a hurry and he was on government business. He co-operated fully with the police officers and did not dispute he was speeding, but did dispute the speed.”

The court questioned how poor signage could alter the charge from speeding at 70mph to 55mph and Mr Freeman added: “The Crown accept 55mph was the appropriate speed in this case and that’s it.

“The summons is speeding. Not doing 70mph.”

Ms Akano agreed. “It is something we can take a view on and we have done so this morning.”

Magistrate David Walker told Lord Marland: “Obviously you have listened to what has been said and the court has heard you have pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

“We will endorse your licence with three penalty points and that will put you on nine penalty points.

“You are getting very close to twelve penalty points, which would give you a driving ban of six months so from now on drive with extreme caution.” 

Lord Marland is currently the Chairman of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, having formerly been Treasurer of the Conservative Party.

After failing to win the parliamentary seat of Somerton and Frome for the Tories at the 2001 General Election he was awarded a life peerage on June 8, 2006 as Baron Marland of Odstock.

Educated at the private Shrewsbury School Lord Marland made his fortune after founding multinational insurance giant Jardine Lloyd Thompson.

Away from politics and business Lord Marland has a keen interests in the arts and sport and is a member of the MCC and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.