A driver who was previously banned was caught driving again and jokingly mentioned having accumulated 59 penalty points when stopped by law enforcement. Police body camera footage depicted Iain Ashmore, aged 45, asserting that officers were unfairly targeting him before they checked his driving history and found out about the high number of penalty points. Despite being prohibited from driving, Ashmore was pulled over while operating a white Ford Transit Connect on July 23.
Initially, Ashmore expressed frustration, stating he was tired of being stopped and accused the police of singling him out, claiming he had been pulled over “three times in one month.” He even threatened to file a formal complaint.
Upon investigating his details, PC Mark Solder informed Ashmore, “It says you’ve got 59 points at the minute.” To this, Ashmore responded, “Oh has it gone down now has it?” PC Solder, puzzled, asked, “Down?” Ashmore humorously replied, “My mistake, it was 61.”
Under the UK’s ‘totting up’ system, drivers who amass 12 penalty points within three years usually face a minimum six-month driving ban. When questioned about how he managed to retain his license with 61 points, Ashmore jokingly stated, “Because I’m a very good person.”
Ashmore also mentioned that his insurance expenses were exorbitant but dismissed them as “just a pretty penny,” noting that they were still lower than insurance for truck drivers.
At Lincoln Magistrates’ Court, it was disclosed that Ashmore, residing in Witham St Hughes, Lincolnshire, drove the white Ford Transit Connect while disqualified on three separate occasions in May, June, and July of the current year. He pleaded guilty to three offenses of driving without a valid license, three offenses of driving uninsured, and one offense of driving while using a mobile phone.
Recently, he received an eight-week suspended prison sentence valid for 12 months. Additionally, he was disqualified from driving until July 2027 and instructed to cover court expenses and a surcharge.
PC Solder from Lincolnshire Police remarked, “This individual persisted in driving despite being banned, resulting in a disqualification until July 2027 with 59 points on his license. Driving is a privilege that comes with obligations and costs, which most road users understand and adhere to. He poses a risk on the roads and threatens the safety of other law-abiding drivers.”
