A Tory peer who lives in Salisbury has been spared a driving ban after being caught speeding in his Bentley on his way to Heathrow Airport.

Lord Jonathan Marland, of Odstock, was fined £146 and ordered to pay £110 in costs and a £34 surcharge.

The 65-year-old insurance businessman pleaded guilty to driving at 55mph in a 40mph zone on June 23, last year and also received three penalty points on his driving licence.

Today (April 1), Lavender Hill Magistrates Court heard Lord Marland was originally charged with driving at 70mph but that was later reduced to 55mph, sparing him from a possible driving ban.

He already had six points on his licence and a conviction for driving at 70mph could have triggered an automatic ban.

Lord Marland who has served as the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy, Minister for Energy and Climate Change and Business, Innovation and Skills was on his way to fly to Gibraltar to open a new government office when he was caught by the speed trap.

The hand-held Pro Laser speed camera was said to have indicated he was doing 70mph which he has always disputed.

In the run up to the court hearing, Lord Marland’s solicitor, Nick Freeman, used images from Google Maps to highlight to the CPS that the 40mph speed limit signs were inappropriate for that stretch of motorway.

“Having spoken to the defence representative and seen the poor signage of the road I have agreed to lower the speed. The defendant would not have known the signage was there,” prosecutor Abigail Akano told the court.

Mr Freeman asked the court to simply issue Lord Marland with a fixed penalty.

“We are only here because he was originally charged under a different speed,” he said.

“It is unfair the defendant should be prejudiced because of a speed put forward by the Crown.”

When asked about Lord Marland’s income, Mr Freeman said: “His would fall amongst the highest bracket. He has not filled out a statement of means.

“The motorway was absolutely deserted and this was a spur road towards Heathrow Airport with no other cars.

“He was not in a hurry and he was on government business. He co-operated fully with the police officers and did not dispute he was speeding, but did dispute the speed.”

The court questioned how poor signage could alter the charge from speeding at 70mph to 55mph and Mr Freeman said: “The Crown accept 55mph was the appropriate speed in this case and that’s it.

“The summons is for speeding. Not doing 70mph.”

Ms Akano agreed and told the court: “It is something we can take a view on and we have done so this morning.”

Chairman of the bench, David Walker, told Lord Marland: “Obviously you have listened to what has been said and the court has heard you have pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

“We will endorse your licence with three penalty points and that will put you on nine penalty points.

“You are getting very close to 12 penalty points, which would give you a driving ban of six months so from now on drive with extreme caution.” 

Lord Marland is currently the Chairman of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, having formerly been Treasurer of the Conservative Party.

After failing to win the parliamentary seat of Somerton and Frome at the 2001 General Election he was awarded a life peerage on June 8, 2006 as Baron Marland of Odstock.

Educated at the private Shrewsbury School, Lord Marland made his fortune after founding multinational insurance giant Jardine Lloyd Thompson.

Away from politics and business, Lord Marland has a keen interests in the arts and sport and is a member of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

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