Driver spared ban despite being caught EIGHT times speeding through Testos Roundabout roadworks

Victoria Forshaw, 44, repeatedly flouted a 40mph temporary restriction at Testo’s Roundabout on the Sunderland and South Tyneside border as she nipped to and from work.

The bank contact centre worker whizzed through the average speed-monitored zone in her Nissan at up to 53mph - and her lowest recorded speed was 46mph.

The mum-of-one, who had faced a minimum six-month ban, was even clocked twice in one day – northbound and southbound.

Forshaw also exceeded the limit around six miles away on the A690, south of Houghton Cut at Houghton, a month before her Testo’s spree began.

She told South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court a failure to update her car’s logbook to a new address meant she was not alerted to the first offence.

Instead, all nine, which each carry three penalty points, arrived through her letterbox on the same day in February.

Forshaw claimed receiving the first notice would have slowed her down and led her to not commit the other eight offences.

Magistrates said her honesty in not pleading exceptional hardship from a disqualification, had saved her from a ban - and that she helps look after her 90-year-old grandfather.

Afterwards, relieved Forshaw said: “This has stopped me in my tracks. I will now slow down.”

Her catalogue of speed began on Tuesday, November 19, last year when she was caught on camera travelling at 57mph on the 50mph A690.

And on Thursday, December 5, she began her run of offences at Testo’s at West Boldon, where a giant road improvement project is underway.

She was clocked at 48mph heading southbound, and 46mph in the opposite direction later the same day.

On Wednesday, January 8, this year a camera clocked her at 53mph, followed by 52mph on Tuesday, January 14, both northbound.

The following day she was caught doing 47mph heading south, and at 51mph going north on Sunday, January 19.

A day later she was recorded travelling at 46mph – and finally caught doing 47mph northbound on Monday, February 10.

The court was told she already had three points on her licence from an offence in January 2018, taking her overall tally to 30.

Forshaw, who represented herself in court, said: “I moved house in 2018 and updated my details with the DVLA but hadn’t updated my logbook, and all information went to my old address.

“Had I got the logbook back I doubt I would have been speeding, but I absolutely plead guilty.”

Brian Parkinson, chairman of the bench, told her: “We have decided not to take your licence from you on this occasion because of your grandfather, and I know what it’s like to look after someone in their 90s.

“We appreciate your honesty, because you have been honest about your situation.

“You still get three points in each case, so there will be 27 points. Just be aware that one more offence and you will be banned.”

Forshaw, of Fuschia Gardens, Hebburn, who pleaded guilty to nine counts of speeding, was fined £431 and must pay £200 court costs and a £43 victim surcharge.

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