A MOTORIST who was caught speeding on the Ilminster Bypass at 33mph over the speed limit has been allowed to continue driving by magistrates.

Graham Neil Grabham was clocked speeding at 83mph in what was a 50mph limit for the type of vehicle he was driving when he was travelling along the A303 in July last year.

When he appeared before Somerset Magistrates, sitting at Yeovil, they were told he had mistakenly assumed the Ilminster Bypass was a dual carriageway and thought the limit was 70mph.

The 46-year-old defendant, of Thomas Street, Hendreforgan, Gilfach Goch, Rhondda, pleaded guilty to exceeding the 50mph speed limit on the A303 on July 3, 2018.

Defending, Miss Price said that the stretch of road in question had a 60mph speed limit which was reduced to 50mph for the vehicle her client was driving at the time.

“At the time of the offence he was collecting and dropping off materials to his employer as he is a self-employed carpenter,” she said.

“He understood the road in question and accepts this is not a defence, but he thought it was a dual carriageway.”

She said he now accepted it was not and asked that he be allowed to keep his licence which was essential for his work.

The magistrates fined Grabham £634 and endorsed his licence with six penalty point. They also ordered him to pay £85 costs and a £63 victim surcharge.