A FATHER-of-three has lost his driving licence for 6 months and told magistrates he expects to lose his job as a result, after he failed to convince them that he would be caused exceptional hardship.

Jonathan Allan England, 37, appeared at Welshpool Magistrates’ Court last Tuesday, May 2, where he had hoped to avoid a ban, having been stopped by police in Llandinam last September, where it was discovered he was driving his Mercedes AMG Sport without insurance.

England, who had 6 points on his licence prior to this offence, had pleaded guilty by post but had requested a court hearing so he could put forward an exceptional hardship argument in the hope of receiving leniency.

The apprentice electrician, previously of Llandysill, near Montgomery, but who has since moved to Penparcau, Aberystwyth, told the court his licence was required as he drives to Thirsk in North Yorkshire every week for work.

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“I missed my renewal date, this is completely my fault,” England told the bench.

“I wouldn’t have been on the road had I known."

He added that he need to drive to get to work and to collect his children from Shrewsbury.

England, previously an abattoir worker, added: “I’m really sorry about what’s happened. It’s not something I let happen usually and it won’t happen again.”

Magistrates told England, after deliberating, that he hadn’t shown them that he would be caused exceptional hardship were they to ban him. They put six points on his licence, giving him 12 and making him a totter, and told him he would be disqualified for 6 months.

He was also fined £266 and told to pay a £106 surcharge and £90 costs. When asked how he could pay the fine, a bemused England told magistrates: “I’m not sure I’ll even have a job after today."