A MOTORIST caught driving at almost twice the limit at a notorious speeding blackspot on the outskirts of Taunton has avoided a ban.

Rebecca June Machen, 43, was clocked doing 58mph in a 30mph limit on the A358 near the junction of Lipe Lane/Stoke Road, in Henlade.

Machen, of Lynmouth Close, Aldridge, Walsall, pleaded guilty to committing the offence on June 26 last year when she appeared at North Somerset Magistrates' Court this month.

She was fined £276 and ordered to pay a £110 victim surcharge and £90 towards prosecution costs.

She was also given six penalty points on her driving licence.

Although that took her over the 12-point totting up total for a ban, she was not disqualified as being unable to drive would have caused "exceptional hardship only found due to her four children".

 

 

Machen was told she must settle her total court bill of £476 by April 8.