A company director has been allowed to keep driving with 16 points on his licence after telling a court he would have to take his daughter out of private school if he was banned.
Record dealer Michael Craig claimed he would have to move his six-year-old daughter from Dundee High School if he was given the mandatory totting up ban.
Craig, who boasted three months ago about how well his business was doing, claimed it would struggle to survive if he was hit with the six-month disqualification.
Perth’s Justice of the Peace Court was told that Craig was already on 12 points when he was clocked speeding on the A9 near the Perthshire village of Greenloaning.
The court was told he had escaped a previous ban for hitting the 12-point mark due to an “oversight” by the court where his previous case was dealt with.
On Tuesday, Craig, 50, of West Steading, Snabs Farm, Longforgan, admitted speeding at 73mph in a van with a limit of 60mph on the A9 Perth to Stirling road on April 24.
Pleading exceptional hardship, Craig said: “My daughter is at Dundee High School. My father wanted to pay for her first two years at the high school.
“She is six. She is in her second year now. The third year intention was we would take over the payments.
“I have just been gearing up to attempt to find extra income in order to make those payments.
“If my income is cut, it would be difficult for her to continue attending the school and we would have to move her.
“Or we would need to employ Dundee High School after-school care, which costs more money.
“I am very worried that my daughter would have to move school. She seems very happy and settled. Financially things would be very difficult.”
Justice of the Peace Keith Parkes said: “You will not be disqualified from driving but will remain on an excess number of points.”
Craig formally had four points put on his licence, bringing his total to 16, and was fined £270.