Student spared driving ban

Joshua Creighton (18), Taughblane Road, Hillborough, admitted a speeding charge which happened on March 5 this year. The court heard he was detected travelling at 78mph in a 60mph zone on the A1 dual carriageway. A barrister representing the defendant said Creighton had just completed his ‘A’ levels and had received an offer to study medicine at Queens University. He added that his client had also been offered part-time work. But, he explained, he already had three points on his licence and an extra three would lead to a ban. The barrister said that a disqualification would lead to exceptional hardship for the defendant. He described his client as being of good character and a young man helped his father and his younger brother. The lawyer added that Creighton was hoping to keep on the summer job while at university to help with his finances. Deputy District Judge Peter Magill said he was going to take an exceptional course in this case. He added that in the normal course of events there would have been an automatic ban but he was satisfied that a disqualification would cause the defendant considerable hardship. “You have a fine career ahead of you, all being well,” he told Creighton. “But if you come back to court again you will lose your licence.” He fined him £150, ordered him to pay a £15 offender’s levy and gave him three points but did not disqualify him because of exceptional circumstances.