'Harsh' driving ban for estate owner

Sir James Alexander Aykroyd, 66, of Birstwith Hall in High Birstwith, Harrogate, pleaded guilty to driving at 67mph in a temporary 50mph zone on the M6 in Cumbria.

The court heard how Sir James already had nine points on his licence, all of which were added in the last two years, when he was caught speeding last March.

Sir James asked magistrates if he could plead exceptional hardship and keep his licence, after being affected by being told by his vet that one of his horses had to be put down.

The court heard that Sir James is a director of Scottish malt whisky distillery – The Speyside – and regularly travels to Glasgow and Edinburgh.

As the firm's only UK-based director he is regularly required to attend meetings with the bank, as well as other meetings with possible investors from the USA and India in the coming months. Losing his licence would cause him major problems in the current financial climate and employing a driver would be expensive and difficult, he said.

Although he has workers at Birstwith Hall, one could not be used as a driver because they "only do menial tasks on the estate", he said.

The remote part of the country also means public transport is difficult, he added.

The magistrates deliberated for 15 minutes before telling him that they did not find exceptional hardship in his case.

Sir James was disqualified from driving for six months, fined a total of 595 and given four points on his licence.

Outside court, he said: "This was a bit harsh."