More Points On Driving Licence For Speeding Lord

A Tory peer has received three penalty points on his licence for speeding, just two months after getting it back after a six-month driving ban.

Benjamin Lloyd Stormont Mancroft, 67, the 3rd Baron Mancroft was caught on camera speeding in a 20mph zone in west London.

He did not appear for his trial at Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court this week, where his written application to adjourn the case was refused.

The Eton-educated businessman, whose London address is a £1.25m two-bedroom flat in Harrington Gardens, South Kensington complained he would not be in the capital for the trial.

Lord Mancroft was convicted of driving his silver two-litre diesel Mercedes-Benz on the A4 Cromwell Road, Earl’s Court in excess of 20mph on July 30, last year.

The court heard a summons was posted to the South Kensington address on January 22, informing the peer of the trial date and the fact it would go ahead in his absence.

In an email to the court earlier this month Lord Mancroft wrote: “I don’t live in London,” applying for the trial to be heard within one of three date windows he provided.

However, he gave no reason for why he was unable to attend and the magistrates pressed ahead with the trial, noting all defendants should be treated equally, regardless of title.

Prosecutor Philip Simpson told the court Lord Mancroft was recorded speeding at 26.8mph at 1.47pm and his driving record was so serious he was ineligible for a driving awareness course or a fixed penalty fine.

“He has a whole lot of points on his licence. He has at least twelve points on his driving licence.”

The court heard Lord Mancroft was disqualified from driving for six months on August 14, last year after accumulating at least twelve penalty points.

“He did not have a licence to send in for a fixed penalty,” explained Mr Simpson.

In his financial means form Lord Mancroft did not provide details of his income and regarding the nature of his employment simply answered: ‘Don’t know.’

Lord Mancroft, who only got his driving licence back on February 14, this year received a £220 fine, plus £200 costs and was ordered to pay an £88 victim surcharge.

The married father-of-three also received three penalty points.

The peer inherited his title from his father Stormont Mancroft, the 2nd Baron Mancroft in 1987.