A newly-qualified driver has been fined £650 after speeding and twice failing to display his ’R’ plates.

Lawrence William Hedivan, of Auldyn Walk, Ramsey, had his licence endorsed with five penalty points after admitting the offences.

The 24-year-old had previously had his ’R’ plate period extended on May 6 for careless driving and received six points on his licence.

On May 27 police saw him driving at Glen Mona without a plate on the back of his Lexus. In interview, he said he understood he needed to display the plates on the front and back of his vehicle but then gave a ’no comment’ response when asked whether he had been displaying them.

On June 6, Hedivan was seen by police driving at 80mph in a 50mph area at the Corony in Maughold. He was stopped by officers and again found to have no ’R’ plate on the rear of his car.

He said when he was speeding he was in severe pain due to needing the toilet urgently.

Hedivan represented himself in court and said he had contracts for work in the UK which he would lose if he was disqualified from driving.

Magistrates chair Charles Fargher said: ’We are going to give you the benefit of the doubt and are not going to ban you, but you’ve been saved by a hair’s breadth. This is the last chance saloon.’