Driving ban avoided by Captain Phillips

Press, 7 October 1987, Page 28

Driving ban avoided by Captain Phillips

NZPA-PA London Captain Mark Phillips escaped a driving ban after admitting travelling at nearly 167 km on the M 4.

Magistrates at Newbury, Berkshire, used their discretion not to disqualify him after hearing from him and his counsel that the use of a car for business was of vital importance. Captain Phillips said later that he had nothing to add to what he said in Court, but his counsel, Mr Michael Sullivan, said Captain Phillips was "very pleased.” He was fined £l2O ($298) and had his driver’s licence endorsed and was also ordered to pay £l5 costs. It is the second time in a month that a member of the Royal family has

appeared in court on a speeding charge. Princess Margaret’s son, Viscount Linley, was disqualified from driving for six months under the "totting up” system of penalty points for doing 158 km on the M 4 out of London. Captain Phillips escaped the ban, which is discretionary, because magistrates said they took into account al! the mitigating circumstances. During the 50-mlnute hearing, the Court was told that driving played a big part in Captain Phillips’ business commitments. Mr Sullivan, who also represented Lord Linley, said Captain Phillips drove at least 48,000 km a year. Mr Paul Harrison, for

the Crown, said Captain Phillips had been followed by the police and clocked at an average of 166km/h over a third of a mile on the M 4 near Bradfield, Berkshire, just before 8 p.m. on July 28. But Mr Sullivan said it was an isolated incident for which he was extremely sorry. Mr Sullivan said Captain Phillips was entitled to the exercise of the magistrates’ discretion “as is anybody else who appears before this Court charged with a similar offence.” He added: "Should you disqualify Captain Phillips from driving, such a disqualification will seriously affect his ability to fulfill his commitments ... both in this country and while abroad.”