Serial speeder says he blew past lorry at 81mph because he has asthma and its fumes were 'obnoxious'
A serial speeder caught overtaking a lorry at 81mph in a 60mph zone has been banned after telling a court he made the manoeuvre because he has asthma and found the lorry's fumes "obnoxious".
Keith Williamson, who is 78, was seen overtaking the lorry on the A41 at Hinstock on May 4 last year - the fifth time he has been caught breaking the speed limit.
On the latest occasion he was spotted driving towards Whitchurch by a police officer using a laser detection device. The officer later gave a written statement saying that he had been properly trained in how to use the device, and that the weather on the day was "fine and dry".
Williamson admitted a single count of speeding. He already had nine penalty points on his licence and a conviction would usually mean six more points a ban, but he asked for leniency from magistrates.
At a sentencing hearing at Telford Magistrates Court on Monday he tried to argue that a ban would cause him "exceptional hardship".
Williamson told the court he has attended a speed awareness course which he had found "very informative".
He told the magistrates: "I apologise to the court for travelling over 60mph while overtaking a lorry.
"It would put me in hardship if I was disqualified because I have a brother in Newport who I regularly visit. He's had a stroke so consequently my thoughts are with his health and keeping in touch.
"I myself suffer from asthma and COPD and this was the reason I overtook the lorry, because it was pumping out fumes - it was a bit obnoxious.
"I have evidence from the doctor of my chest problems. My chest problems are controlled [with medication]. During Covid I was on the 'at risk' register.
"I am at your mercy and I just wish I can still carry on driving so I can visit my brother."
Williamson, of Boscobel Road in Buntingsdale, Market Drayton, also said he would struggle getting around on public transport from north Shropshire.
"I live in the countryside, it's a bit of a problem. To get a bus ride here today I got the bus to Shrewsbury then the Shrewsbury-Telford bus."
He told the magistrates that his wife was a passenger in the hire car when he committed the offence, and that she can drive.
The magistrates retired to consider their decision for about 10 minutes, before chair of the bench Alan Boyd delivered it.
"We don't find exceptional hardship in this case. We don't accept that you will have problems resulting from being disqualified.
"Having a chest infection does not give you licence to speed - it's as simple as that."
They handed down a ban of six months.
The magistrates also ordered Williamson to pay a fine of £100, prosecution costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £40.