Vicar spared speeding ban despite being caught for a fourth time

Reverend Tudor Rowlands was caught speeding for the fourth time in four years and escaped a driving ban because it would stop him preaching to his rural parish. (Cant say that his god wasnt watching out for him on that one!)

The 74 yer old vicar was caught doing 40mph in a 30mph area. He already had nine points on his licence from three previous offences.

Mr Rowlands, whose parish is in Powys, North Wales, said a ban would affect the ‘spiritual health of communities’ if he couldn’t reach elderly people who cannot get to church. 

Apologising for his speeding, he also pleaded 'exceptional hardship'  as he apologised for his speeding. 

The court heard Mr Rowlands, who has been a minister for 46 years, was still in charge of 10 chapels across a very large rural parish around Welshpool.

He said he believed he had learned his lesson after being caught for a fourth time in just four years.

Prosecutor Justin Espie told the court Rowlands, of Rhewl, Ruthin, pleaded guilty to driving too fast in a 30mph zone in Talybont on May 10, 2014, reports the Powys County Times.

In cross-examination, Mr Espie questioned Rowlands as to whether he would lose his job or his home as a result of being disqualified. The priest admitted he would not.

Magistrates accepted his argument of exceptional hardship and fined him £70, ordered him to pay costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £20

source