A MANAGER at a care home admitted driving more than double the speed limit on his Harley Davidson motorbike, Welshpool Magistrates’ Court heard on Tuesday.

Stephen Nicholas Jones, 62, of New Ifton, St Martins, Oswestry, was charged with driving at 63 miles per hour in a 30mph limit in Dolfor on the A483.

The chair of the magistrates’ bench, Lynette Kretchmer, recognised the defendant and said she used to watch him on TV.

Stephen Davies, prosecuting, said an officer caught the defendant speeding at 12.23pm on September 21, 2019.

Robert Hanratty, defending, said there used to be a 40mph speed limit on the road and that Jones was following “slow moving vehicles” and accelerated to overtake them just within the 30mph zone. He hoped the magistrates would accept that the speeding was marginal “in terms of distance travelled”.

The court heard that Jones was “very concerned” about sentencing as he works as a manager of a care home, which requires him to drive.

A letter from his employer said that he was a “valued member of staff” but that he would not be able to continue in his role without his driving licence, the court heard.

Magistrates did not give Jones a driving ban and instead put six points on his licence.

He was also told to pay £85 in court costs and was fined £384.

“You need to be very careful,” said Ms Kretchmer.