Army officer who drove at 130mph escapes ban

AN ARMY officer who was caught speeding at 130mph in his Aston Martin has been allowed to keep his driving licence so he can go to the Falklands.

Capt James Golding, 26, was spared the standard penalty after magistrates heard that he needed his licence for a six-month tour starting in April.

An unmarked police car caught Golding speeding on July 9 last year on the A12 dual carriageway at Dedham, Essex.

Ipswich magistrates heard how he had recently been driving his Aston Martin DB9 on German autobahns with no general speed limit.

Golding, of Upminster, east London, who serves in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, admitted driving at nearly double the 70mph limit.

Magistrates agreed that there were exceptional circumstances and fined him £781 with six penalty points.