A charity volunteer caught by a speed camera has avoided losing his licence after a court heard he would no longer be able to provide transport for the elderly or care for his sick wife.

Ian Geoffrey Thompson from Heathfield, East Sussex, was in Cornwall at the time of the offence on June 15 last year.

He has now appeared before Brighton Magistrates' Court for sentencing, having previously pleaded guilty before magistrates in Cornwall to having driven a Volkswagen Touareg between the average speed cameras at Trewennack, on the outskirts of Helston, at a speed over the 30mph limit.

Magistrates ruled that there should be no disqualification under the "totting up" process, due to a number of mitigating circumstances.

The court was told that if the 58-year-old was banned from driving he would be unable to operate as a sole trader and support his family.

It would also impact his wife, who had a medical issue, as well onothers, as currently Thompson transports people for the charity Young at Heart, a community club in Heathfield that helps the elderly integrate with the local primary schools by hearing them read and take part in activities to suit both generations.

The bench also heard that a ban would impact his ability to sit on a property tribunal.

Instead, Thompson was fined £333 and ordered to pay £110 towards prosecution costs, along with a £34 surcharge to fund victim services. Three points were also added to his driving licence.

The defendant's guilty plea was taken into account when imposing the sentence.