A DRIVER has been banned from the road for six months and fined almost £450 after he sped through traffic lights in a Powys town in front of watching police officers.

Yousef Golzar, 30, pleaded guilty to careless driving in Newtown on April 2 this year. He also admitted driving without insurance when he appeared at Wellingborough Magistrates' Court on Friday, October 1. He had argued exceptional hardship but that was thrown out and he was fined a total of £431 and disqualified from driving for six months due to repeat offending.

While Dyfed Powys Police officers were stationary at a set of traffic lights at around 5.45pm they witnessed the defendant's Volkswagen Phaeton approaching. The defendant then crossed at speed from the New Road direction through the traffic lights towards the direction of Pool Road.

Magistrates said they did not find that Golzar, of Drybrook Close, Manchester, would suffer any financial or other hardship due to the loss of his licence. And the six-month disqualification handed down was seen as “obligatory” due to his repeat offending.

He was fined £123 for careless driving and a further £184 for driving without insurance. He was also ordered to pay £90 costs and a £34 surcharge.