A STANFORD-le-Hope mum of four was spared a driving ban by magistrates in Basildon after hearing a ban would mean she would have to take her children on a five mile round trip to schools.

Kerry Newins, 41, of Victoria Road, admitted speeding on Lodge Lane in Grays in August last year and also speeding on Southend Road in Stanford-le-Hope.

The points accrued from both offences would have taken her over the points limit that brought about disqualification.

However, the court was told that the mum of children aged six, ten, 12 and 15 should be spared a ban as the walk involved in taking her children safely to school would make it problematical for her to then get a train into London where she works as a paralegal with Eversheds.

Magistrates decided a ban would seriously impact on her ability to get to work and care for and support her children so instead she was fined £150 and ordered to pay costs and a surcharge totalling £122 for the offence in Grays and £100 for the offence on Southend Road. She will still get seven points on her licence, taking her over the totting up point, but she was spared a ban.

And there was leniency for a Grays resident who was also spared a driving ban after admitting two offences of speeding on the A13.

Bernard Olufemi Onabolu, 59, of Mallow Court, would have gone over the normal limit of points that brings a driving ban with his two convictions, but the court heard that he needs a licence to work as a collections officer in Enfield.

Magistrates were told that he would likely lose his job with a ban and he would find it difficult to get employment. He has recently taken out a mortgage, with high repayments due to his age and his house would be at risk if he were to lose his job.

He also supports his daughter at university and his mother for medical products in Nigeria.

Onabolu was fined a total of £350 with costs and surcharges taking the total he has to pay to £470. Six points will still be added to his licence.

On a day when compassion appeared to be the order of the moment, a third Thurrock resident was also spared a ban by magistrates.

The three points 52-year-old Olabisi Ogundepo of Sexton Road, Tilbury, received after she admitted speeding on the A120 at Marks Tey should have resulted in a ban but magistrates found there were mitigating circumstances and exceptional hardship would be caused by a ban.

The defendant runs her own business which would not be able to function and she would not be able to pay rent or her mortgage with no income, while others she employs would lose their jobs.

She was fined £178 and ordered to pay costs and a surcharge totalling £132.

Other cases dealt with recently include:

A 78-YEAR-old woman who drove through a red light was fined £71 and received three endorsement points on her licence.

Janet Lorraine Pumfrey from Digby Road, Corringham, admitted committing the offence in Basildon when he case was heard at the town's magistrates' court.

She was also ordered to pay costs and a surcharge totalling £122.

A CHAFFORD Hundred resident admitted driving almost twice above the permitted 30mph limit on Devonshire Road in Grays.

Mark William Brown, 51, of Brandon Close, pleaded guilty after being clocked at 57mph and was fined £480 and given six penalty points.

He also has to pay costs and a surcharge totalling £138.

HUGH Francis Greenan, 63, from Frances Gardens, South Ockendon, has been disqualified from driving for 20 months and fined £320 after admitting being over the drink drive limit in June last year.

He also has to pay costs and a surcharge totaling £137.

RICKY Francis Butler was fined £220 and his licence endorsed with six points after he was found guilty using a hand held phone while driving.

Butler, 43, of Woodlands Close, Grays, was also ordered by Basildon magistrates to pay costs and a surcharge totalling £120.

ON the same day at Basildon Magistrates' Court Samantha Haydon, 36 of Handel Crescent, Tilbury, admitted the same offence. She was fined £40 and recieved six points, also being ordered to pay costs and a surcharge of £120.

CLAUDIU-marian Ganea, 22, of Woolf Walk, Tilbury, was fined £660 and received six penalty points after driving without insurance. He was also ordered to pay costs and a surcharge totalling £156.

JACKIE Denise Smith of Lampits Lane, Corringham, admitted speeding on Southend Road in Stanford-le-Hope and was fined £40 with three penalty points. She was also ordered to pay a surcharge and costs totalling £120.

JAY Lee Tolfree, 46, of Wingrove Drive, Purfleet, was found guilty two charges of speeding and two of driving a vehcile without the appropriate licence after it had been revoked or refused due to a medical stop.

Costs and fines amounted to £1,104 and he received six penalty points to be added to his licence.

IAIN Humphrys, 51, of Morant Road, Grays, was fined £660 and given six points after he was found guilty of driving without insurance. He has to pay costs and a surcharge totalling £156.

MARIA Ilisoi, 44, of Ashlands Court, East Tilbury, was fined £293 after being found guilty of speeding on Lodge lane in Grays. She received five penalty points and had to pay costs and a surcharge totalling £120.

DRIVING through a red light proved costsly for Jamie David Kerr, 26, of Catherine Close, Chafford Hundred, who was found guilty of the offence in Leigh. He was fined £220 and received three penalty points, also having to pay a surcharge and costs totalling £120.

TEMITOPE Asaju, 35, of Parker Avenue, Tilbury, was banned from driving for six months and ordered to pay fines, cost and surcharges totalling £1,036 after being found guilty of driving without insurance or a licence.

ANDREA Cappai, 29, of Orsett Road, Grays, was banned from driving for six months and fined £660 after being found guilty of failing to give information about the driver of a vehicle in which an offence was alleged to have been committed.

He was fined £660 and ordered to pay costs and a surcharge totalling £156.