Lord Howard has driving conviction overturned

FORMER Tory party leader Lord Howard has had his conviction for failing to say who was driving his car when it was caught speeding quashed.

The politician and his wife Sandra could not remember which of them was driving when it was clocked at 37.3mph in a 30mph zone in south-east London, in January last year.

Last December the former home secretary was fined £900 and received six penalty points on his licence for failing to name the driver.

Lord Howard, 76, completed part one of the relevant form, giving his own name, address and date of birth but, while he mentioned his wife as being the other possible driver, he did not give her details.

His solicitor-advocate, David Sonn, told London’s High Court that ‘crucially’ there were no instructions on the form as to how it was to be completed if the recipient did not know who was the driver at the relevant time. He added: ‘The core submission is that the form was filled in to the best of my client’s ability.’

The couple were not in court yesterday to hear Lord Justice Simon and Mrs Justice Whipple overturn the conviction.