A SPEEDING driver has successfully pleaded to keep his licence despite driving 90mph on the A483 Welshpool bypass.

Kirk Smith, 34 and from Woodside in Telford, appeared at Welshpool Magistrates Court on Tuesday, October 29 after pleading guilty online to the offence from March 31 this year.

The defendant explained that it was a safe overtaking manoeuvre that had escalated when he made the ‘terrible decision’ to go past more cars than anticipated.

Smith apologised for his behaviour saying that he had a moment of a ‘lack of clarity’.

When invited by the court to put forward mitigation on his behalf, Smith explained that he needed his licence to ferry his wife around, who was unable to work because of a broken leg.

He added that he needed his licence to continue working abroad where he installed disabled access units and would potentially lose his job if he was disqualified.

Magistrates fined him £461 and ordered him to pay costs of £90 and a victim surcharge of £184 and endorsed his licence with six points.