The managing director of a Suffolk haulage firm has received a driving ban for speeding on the A11.

Shaun Bartrum, who runs Bartrums Haulage and Storage, was caught doing 79mph in a BMW X5 on the A11 at Ketteringham on January 14, 2017.

The 52-year-old, who appeared at Norwich Magistrates’ Court on Monday, already had 11 points on his licence for three speeding offences in 2015.

Bartrum, of Royston Road, Diss, said he required his licence to travel around the country to negotiate haulage routes.

He said he travelled around 20,000 miles per year, adding that it would be “very difficult” to find someone to fill his role if he lost his licence.

Prosecutor Gemma Whitehouse asked Bartrum why he had not trained anyone to fill his role in the past twelve months since the offence was committed.

He said finances were “fairly tight” and he was not sure the company could afford it.

Bartrum, whose company employs 220 people, told the court that he also required his licence to take his brother-in-law, who was diagnosed with a brain tumour, to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.

Bartrum, who pleaded guilty to the offence, said: “It won’t happen again, I can’t believe I did it this time.”

Chair of the bench, Cathy Dobson, said: “We are not accepting your exceptional hardship case. We believe since this offence in January 2017 you have had a year to get things in order.

“We believe your company has finances in order to hire a driver.

“We also feel there are other people in your family who can take your brother-in-law [to hospital].”

Bartrum was given three points on his licence and disqualified from driving for six months.

He also received a £335 fine.