York man allowed to keep driving after Flintshire speeding

Fabio Bruno Mascarenhas, of Abbey Street in York, appeared at Wrexham Magistrates Court on Friday.

The 44-year-old had previously admitted one offence of speeding, which took place on the A5104 at Pontybodkin, Flintshire.

Prosecutor Shaun Bartlett-Evans told the court the defendant was clocked travelling at 33mph in the 20 zone at 9.13pm on April 8 last year.

Representing himself at the hearing, Mascarenhas told the court he didn’t understand why he’d committed the offence; suggesting it had been a “new environment” for him.

He told the court he took the matter very seriously.

Due to existing points on his licence, Mascarenhas faced an automatic ban – as the penalty points he was to receive for the offence would take him to or beyond the cut-off point of 12.

As such, he advanced an exceptional hardship application in the hope of keeping his licence.

He told the court his job entailed “quite a bit of work from home,” completing paperwork and risk assessments.

However he explained the job also required him to be able to travel across the UK.

Asked if a ban would affect his employment, he added: “It is a wonderful company.

“They will try to accommodate me but the main consequence to me will be financial. There would be a reduction in my salary.”

Mascarenhas said his wife’s mental health would also be affected, and told the court he also takes his child to school.

The Magistrates found that the defendant had “just made it over” the threshold, telling him he’d succeeded ‘by the skin of his teeth.’

Four penalty points were imposed, taking the defendant to a total of 13.

He must pay a £476 fine, £190 victim surcharge and £130 costs.