A MAN who escaped a driving ban because of a clerical error has now lost his licence.

Laurence Cook was caught speeding twice in two days and already had 12 points on his licence for motoring offences, although a mistake meant only nine were recorded, Worcester Magistrates Court was told.

Matt Dodson prosecuting, said the 57-year-old was clocked travelling at 58mph in a 50mph zone on the A449 at Hartlebury on May 20.

He was then caught doing 35mph in a 30mph zone on the A449 in Claines the following day.

Cook, of Claines Lane, Claines, Worcester, pleaded guilty to both offences.

He urged magistrates not to ban him from driving because he used his car several times a week to visit and pick up his son, who suffers from social anxiety and is a residential student at Pershore College.

Cook said he also needed it so he could quickly reach his elderly parents in the event of an emergency.

The market trader said he would not be able to continue running his household electrics store at Birmingham Rag Market as he would have no way of collecting or delivering stock.

However, magistrates did not believe a driving ban would cause him exceptional hardship.

They fined him £85 for the first offence and £75 for the second offence, endorsing his licence with three penalty points for each.

This meant he would lose his licence and he was banned from driving for six months.