Lotus boss let off 6-month ban – as it’s ‘vital’ for him to test sports cars!
THE millionaire boss of Lotus escaped a six-month driving ban for speeding after arguing he was ‘driving very carefully’ and it was ‘vital’ he test drive their cars.
Jean-Marc Gales, 55, was clocked at 102mph on a busy 70mph dual carriageway while taking one of the sports car maker’s models for a spin.
He already had eight penalty points on his driving licence for previous motoring offences and faced another six, which would have pushed him over the 12-point limit for a likely six-month ban.
But the businessman – who was not in court for the hearing – received no points and was instead allowed to serve a 30day ban after his lawyer suggested no one had been put at risk and told magistrates sentencing guidelines were ‘handrails, not handcuffs’.
Road safety organisations were furious yesterday at the lenient treatment. Joshua Harris, director of campaigns at Brake, said: ‘Driving over the speed limit is selfish, reckless and endangers lives.
‘There is no justification for travelling at the speeds in this case and Mr Gales should count himself lucky he did not receive additional points. The law should be used to its fullest extent, making clear this behaviour will not be tolerated.’
Amy Aeron-Thomas, of RoadPeace, argued that even the lower end of the sentencing guidelines would not have been sufficient. ‘This driver posed more risk than many drink-drivers,’ she said.
Luxembourg-born Gales, who became Lotus’ chief executive in 2014, was caught by police using a hand-held device. It showed he was 32mph over the speed limit at 10.40am on January 5 last year, close to the firm’s factory at Hethel, near Norwich in Norfolk. Norfolk Police have not clarified what car he was driving. It was daylight at the time and the road was dry.
Sentencing guidelines state anyone caught doing 101mph or more in a 70mph zone should receive six penalty points and a disqualification of up to 56 days – unless they are in line for a totting up ban.
But Simon Nicholls, representing Gales at Norwich Magistrates’ Court on Monday, argued a short ban was preferable as it was ‘vital’ his client was able to test drive new Lotus cars. Although the firm has engineers to take new vehicles on the roads, he said the chief liked to see how they handled.
Presiding magistrate Mary Wyndham said Gales should avoid using the A11 to test cars in future and instead rely on a test track.
Gales, who admitted speeding in his absence, was also fined £660 and ordered to pay £100 costs plus a £66 victim surcharge.
Lotus did not respond to a request for a comment.
‘Selfish and reckless’