A professional driver from Bradford narrowly avoided losing his licence for speeding on the A65 Clapham bypass.

Brendan Walsh, 50, was overtaking a “slow moving” vehicle when he was recorded by police doing 71mph, Skipton magistrates heard yesterday.

Walsh, who admitted speeding on the 60mph road on July 12, claimed he would suffer exceptional hardship if he was to lose his licence.

The court heard he had nine points on his licence and with another three was liable for an automatic six-month ban.

But Walsh, of Brecon Close, Idle, Bradford, said he would not be able to work as a self-employed plate driver and would lose his house.

He would also lose contact with his teenage daughter.

He was fined £130, had his licence endorsed with three penalty points and was ordered to pay costs of £85 and victims’ surcharge of £20.