A BUSINESSMAN drove at more than twice the national speed limit through a Worcestershire village because he was late for a meeting.

David Powell was clocked at 68mph in a 30mph zone in his Audi A3 on the A4103 in Welland, near Malvern.

Powell, 49, was clocked at 11am on Wednesday, May 20, and admitted speeding when he appeared before district judge Bruce Morgan at Worcester Magistrates Court.

Sam Lamsdale, defending, said the married father-of-two of Sudeley Drive, South Cerney, Cirencester, was a regional divisional manager for brewers InBev and travelled more than 500-miles per week in the course of his job.

She said: “He was late for a business meeting but knows that is no excuse whatsoever.”

Miss Lamsdale said if Powell, who had seven similar convictions for similar matters and six points on his licence already, lost his licence he would lose his job.

She said he thought he would struggle to find another job because of the current economic climate.

However, Mr Morgan said the speed was “unforgivable”.

“This is an appalling speed to be travelling at,” he said.

Mr Morgan disqualified Powell from driving for 50 weeks, fined him £450 and ordered him to pay £80 costs as well as a £15 victim surcharge

• Your Worcester News reporter was the only member of the media at this hearing.