Driver’s hardship plea is a bit rich
A WEALTHY businessman claimed a driving ban would cause him “exceptional hardship” – because he would be unable to take his daughter horse riding.
Mark Lapping, who earns £170,000 a year, made the plea to magistrates after he admitted four speeding offences when he already had nine penalty points.
He insisted that he needed his licence to use his Land Rover to drive his daughter to her “equine activities”, which she was “passionate” about.
Lapping, 48, who runs a furniture components company, also claimed that a ban would force him to spend 20 per cent of his income on taxis to and from work and airports for business trips.
But his plea for mercy was dismissed and he was banned from driving for six months by Norwich magistrates.
He was fined £1,320 and given 12 penalty points, leaving him with 21 points on his licence. He was also ordered to pay £300 in costs and a £33 victim surcharge.
Lapping, chief executive of Global Chair Components, based in Reydon, near Southwold, Suffolk, admitted four offences of speeding between February 21 and May 25 last year.
He tried to argue that an automatic six-month ban, under the totting-up procedure for having more than 12 points, would cause him exceptional hardship.
Lapping said he would be unable to drive the 65 miles from his home near Fakenham, Norfolk, to the company’s headquarters.
The father-of-two said: “I am responsible for the business and that requires me to be in Reydon on a regular basis.
“I can’t get there by public transport in the time available.
“The duties extend throughout the UK as the company has customers in China and Eastern Europe, which requires transport to airports.
“My mortgage is £3,411 per month and I am the sole earner.
“Taxi costs for all of the locations that I would need to get to would take at least 20 per cent of my income.
“I would have to stop other activities, particularly my daughter’s equine activities passionate about.”
The court heard how Lapping was first caught speeding at 72mph in a 60mph limit on February 21 at Sutton Bridge, Norfolk.
He did 35mph in a 30mph limit on May 6 at Whaplode, Lincolnshire, 62mph in a 50mph zone at Stanstead Abbotts, Hertfordshire, on May 20, and 35mph in a 30mph limit, again at Whaplode, on May 25.
Joanna Kasprzyk, defending, said Lapping had been “burnt out” by a decade of hard work with his previous employer.
She added: “When he decided to leave and tell everyone he was leaving, that is when the driving offences were committed.”
Magistrates rejected his plea that he faced exceptional hardship. which she is