A POWYS man will be driving around with 14 points on his licence after a court this week allowed him to stay on the road.

Llandrindod Wells Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, June 7, agreed with Daniel Mills that he and his family, as well as employees, would be caused exceptional hardship if he lost his driving licence.

Mills, 31, was stopped by police near Crossgates Primary School on the afternoon of January 28 this year, where he was found to be driving a Skoda Citigo without insurance.

Mills, of Great House Villa, Llanyre, had admitted to the offence by post but had requested a court hearing in person as he already had 6 points on his licence and was in line for an automatic ban.

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Mills, a tree surgeon, told the court that he would have to lay off three employees if he was banned due to him being the only eligible driver. He also said he needs to drove between home and Hereford to visit a family member in hospital.

“Me, my dad and my brother all have our own gang of three men and, in my gang, none drive, I pick them all up," he said. "I will have to sack them all today (if I’m banned).

“My dad fell out of tree recently and hurt his knee, so he needs an operation and he’s off work, so I’ll be taking over his gang and running the whole show. We cover all of Powys.”

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Mills explained that his mother is the company’s administrator and deals with insurance for all the vehicles, and simply hadn’t seen an email regarding the renewal of the vehicle he was driving on the day.

Magistrates told Mills that they agreed that he and others would be caused exceptional hardship and they allowed him to keep his licence – albeit they handed him eight points, so he now has 14 points in total on his licence.

He was also fined £300 and told to pay a £120 surcharge and £85 costs.