Campaigner keeps licence despite using phone in car

A PROMINENT anti-windfarm campaigner can carry on driving with 12 points on her licence — after telling a court a totting-up ban would force her to take her son out of school.

Scotland Against Spin spokeswoman Linda Holt has been allowed to escape a driving ban despite racking up 12 points, which would normally mean a six-month ban.

She told a court she had “special reasons” not to be disqualified in the wake of being caught driving with her mobile phone in her hand.

She admitted turning the phone on to check the time.

Holt, 51, of Pittenweem, told the court her son would have to move from his school nine miles from her home and move to his catchment school.

She said the boy suffered from “social anxiety” and had taken time to settle at school, and added that he would be disadvantaged by having to move schools.

Holt admitted having nine points already on her licence for two speeding offences and she faced a ban when three points were imposed for the latest offence.

She admitted driving her Skoda Fabia southbound on the A9 near Perth while using a handheld phone on October 18 last year.

Holt told Perth’s Justice of the Peace court: “I’m very sorry I committed the offence.

“I had no idea I was committing an offence until the police officer told me it was an offence to pick up any device.

“There is no school bus because we live outside catchment. My son would have to leave school and attend the one in catchment.

“That might be something many children would take in their stride but it would cause my son exceptional hardship.

“If my son was forced to go to a new school where he knows no one, I have no doubt it would be detrimental to his health.”

Justice of the Peace, Eve Forrest said: “In my view, although you personally don't fit the criteria, there’s evidence of reflected exceptional hardship on your son and on that view the proof is upheld.”

Holt is left with 12 points on her licence and was fined £90.