A MOTORIST passing through Powys has paid a hefty price for not turning up to court to answer a few driving charges – as he was ordered to pay more than £1,500 in costs.

Nikolay Todorov, 29, was stopped for speeding and driving without insurance in a Mercedes Vito on Pool Road in Newtown at around midday on January 29 this year. He was also charged with failing to provide information regarding the identity of a driver.

He did not attend Llanelli Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, August 9, so the case was proved in his absence. There is some confusion as to Todorov’s address as the court listed two different ones in London; Coniston Road, London, and Woolmer Road, in Enfield.

He was fined £660 and ordered to pay a £132 surcharge as well as £90 costs – making a total of £882 – for the driving without insurance charge. The speeding offence was withdrawn but for the failing to identify charge he was ordered to pay another £660 fine and £90 costs – adding up to £750. Overall that makes a grand total of £1,632 in financial penalties.

In addition, he was disqualified from driving for 12 months for the no insurance charge – with magistrates saying the ban was obligatory due to repeat offending. For the failing to identify offence he had six points placed on his licence.