A motorist who failed to display R plates twice has been fined £900.

However, Liam Thomas Holland was spared a ban after his advocate successfully argued that it would cause exceptional hardship.

Magistrates endorsed the 29-year-old's licence with six penalty points, which would normally mean a disqualification for an R plate driver.

Prosecuting advocate Hazel Carroon told the court that Holland's licence was revoked in May 2023.

He then retook and passed his test in December 2025.

However, on February 25, he was stopped by police while driving on Glen Helen Road.

He was not displaying the required R plates.

On March 13, Holland was again stopped by officers, this time on May Hill in Ramsey, and was again not displaying the plates.

Holland, who resides at May Hill, initially denied the offences, but on July 30, changed his pleas to guilty.

Defence advocate Ian Kermode said that his client had changed his pleas after additional evidence had been provided, as he said there had been a degree of ambiguity regarding whether the R plates were required.

The advocate said that Holland had previously held a clean licence for 10 years before being disqualified in 2023, so there had been confusion over whether he had to display R plates after passing his test again.

Mr Kermode said that his client had not been deliberately flouting the law.

He said that Holland ran three businesses, and also had childcare responsibilities, so a driving ban would not only impact him, but also his young daughter.

Magistrates chair Ken Faragher said that they had only just been persuaded to spare the defendant from a disqualification, mainly due to the effect it would have on his young child.

Holland's R plate period has also been extended by six months, until June 2027, and he must pay £50 prosecution costs.

He agreed to pay all amounts within seven days.