A BRADFORD man has escaped a driving ban after he was caught speeding because he would have lost business.

Trevor Benn, of Woodside Road in Wyke, exceeded the 30mph speed limit near the Highfield Business Park in Ripon.

He was speeding in a Peugeot van on Palace Road on October 8.

There was no totting disqualification due to the mitigating circumstance that he would lose business.

The 59-year-old operates a small family-owned heating and plumbing company.

He and his four employees travel all over the UK undertaking contracts and bringing new work into the business.

The court document says some employees are family, including his stepson, and they rely on the income as their full-time wage.

The company have mortgaged properties and loss of business would result in reduced income. Benn would not be able to maintain the employment of those employees.

Other employees wouldn't be able to drive the defendant - this would take them away from the work they are doing and result in reduced contracts/work for the business and therefore reduced income.

He was fined £92 and was forced to £90 in court costs and a £34 victim surcharge.

The case was heard at Harrogate Magistrates' Court on August 24.