Lord hitting 103mph on M-way banned
Former Trade Minister Lord Jones of Birmingham has been banned from driving after being caught speeding at 103mph on a West Midlands motorway.
Former Trade Minister Lord Jones of Birmingham has been banned from driving after being caught speeding at 103mph on a West Midlands motorway.
Magistrates in Telford yesterday heard the 54-year-old passed an unmarked police car in his Jaguar XF on the M42 last September.
Lord Jones, previously Digby Marrit Jones, from London, has admitted speeding.
Lord Jones, of Elizabeth Court, Palgrave Gardens, was banned for 28 days, fined £1,100, ordered to pay £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.
The court heard that former CBI chief Lord Jones was travelling on the M42 between Junctions 2 and 3 just before midnight on September 26.
Mr Andrew Burke, prosecuting, said the Jaguar XF passed an unmarked police patrol car and his speed was recorded at 103mph.The Jaguar joined the M40 and left at Junction 16 when it was stopped by the officers.
Mr Burke said: "When he was spoken to the defendant apologised and said that he was on his way home from a function. His wife was a passenger in the car."
Mr John Weston, defending, said Lord Jones would not oppose the statutory driving ban required for speeding over 100mph.
"Despite his status he still drives himself about 15,000 miles a year. "A disqualification would effect him the same as other people and he will have to call on friends, family, trains or taxis," he said.
He added that Lord Jones was returning home from a charity fundraising event in Kidderminster on the day of the offence.
The court heard that Lord Jones was still an active member of the House of Lords and his income was from positions as an international business advisor with HSBC bank and as chairman of Triumph Motorcyles Ltd.
In addition he gave his time free to various charities, including UNICEF and Cancer Research.