A Kensington interior designer, caught speeding in his Land Rover, has dodged a driving ban so he can continue visiting his nine year-old daughter, whose mother relocated to north Norfolk.
Bromley Magistrates' Court
Samuel Birch, 50, boss of Picturesque Productions, clocked-up twelve penalty points on his driving licence, which usually results in an automatic six-month disqualification.
However, at Bromley Magistrates’ Court he successfully argued that a ban would cause ‘exceptional hardship’ and walked away with his licence and a fine of £123, with £110 costs, plus a £49 victim surcharge and three penalty points.
Birch, a Fine Arts graduate, of Radford House, Pembridge Gardens pleaded guilty to driving his Land Rover Discovery over the 20mph speed limit in Grosvenor Road, Pimlico on June 25, last year.
The hotel, club, restaurant, bar and retail specialist told the court: “I was coming across lanes and did not realise the speed limit had changed.”
Arguing it was vital for family life that he retains his licence Birch explained: “My daughter lives with her mother near the north Norfolk coast, one hundred and fifty miles away.
“I have rented a second property in the area for ‘Daddy time’ every other weekend and without a car that is a six to none hour journey with a three-hour wait in the middle of the night.
“I also need to drive for the equipment I use that I cannot take on public transport.
“I apologise. I know speeding is dangerous.”
Bench Chair Brenda Henderson announced: “We have taken into consideration your circumstances, your work and your heavy reliance on driving and the impact a disqualification would have on your staff.
“More importantly a disqualification would impact your ability to maintain contact with your daughter and on this occasion we will not impose a disqualification.”
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