A MAN was doing double the speed limit because he was late for his doctor’s appointment in Montgomery, a court heard.

Liam Paul Bishop, 19, of Taer Derwen, Tregynon, admitted driving at 62mph in a 30mph zone in New Mills on June 19.

He appeared at Welshpool Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

Ceri Ellis-Jones, prosecuting, said that the defendant was caught doing double the speed limit. “That’s the only information that we have got,” she said.

“I don’t think there’s much more to it. Bishop accepts he was doing two times the speed limit,” said Robert Hanratty, defending.

The court heard that the defendant had been driving for two years and that he generally considered himself to be a “careful driver”.

“This is the only speeding offence I have ever come across in New Mills,” said Mr Hanratty.

Magistrates heard from the defence that in the area where Bishop was caught speeding there are houses but then they disappear but the 30mph limit continues.

Mr Hanratty said that Bishop was running 20 minutes late for a GP appointment in Montgomery. “He put his foot down trying to make up for lost time,” he told the court.

Magistrates gave Bishop a 42 day driving disqualification, fined him £120 and told him to pay £30 in a victim surcharge and £85 in court costs.

“We just think it was a very silly thing to do,” said Stephen Pembroke, chair of the bench. He added that all around Mid Wales people are becoming “vegetables” after having driven at “such speed and had an accident”.