Ambulance driver escapes ban for 90mph speeding offence
An ambulance driver who admitted travelling at 90mph along a 50mph road has escaped a ban after magistrates were told he would lose his job if he was unable to drive.
Lee Woodend, of Wolverhampton, was driving his blue Vauxhall Astra along the A456 Hagley Hill, in Hagley, on March 15 when he was seen by a PCSO carrying out speed checks.
Kidderminster Magistrates Court yesterday heard a reading from a laser device showed the car travelling at 90mph – 40mph faster than the road's speed limit.
Woodend, who works as a frontline ambulance driver for Lifeskills Medical UK, was stopped by an officer further up the road.
The court was told he had immediately apologised for what he had done.
Woodend, of Greenway Road, Bilston, pleaded guilty to one charge of driving in excess of the 50mph speed limit at yesterday's hearing.
He received three points on his licence, a £500 fine and ordered to pay £60 costs and a £50 victim surcharge.
The court was told he already had three points on his licence and was at risk of being banned from driving.
Mr Geoff Murphy, prosecuting, said: "On the morning of March 15, a PCSO was on duty along the road carrying out speed checks.
"At around 11.18am his attention was attracted by a blue Astra car.
"He took a reading with a laser device which showed the car travelling at a speed of 90mph.
"The PCSO have the information to a colleague on patrol further up the road and the defendant was stopped."
Mr Michael Trevelyan, defending Woodend, said: "My client knows he has been stupid. Other than the speeding there is no suggestion he was driving dangerously in any way.
"Visibility on the day was excellent and this is not a road where there is likely to be many pedestrians around. It is also not near to any schools.
"My client is employed by Lifeskills Medical UK. He is frontline ambulance driver – a public servant responding to both emergency and non-emergency calls.
"To be able to continue that public service he needs to still be in a position to drive.
"I would ask that an outright ban not be necessary in this case."
Mr Trevelyan told the court if his client was disqualified he would likely lose his job.
Magistrates said while Woodend should have known better, especially given his line of work, they agreed not to ban him so he could continue his work.
