Sabbath snag for speeding case man
A Telford man who was allegedly caught on camera driving over the speed limit claims he is being "denied justice" as he cannot attend his court date on religious grounds.
Charles Lawson, 60, of Hadley, received a letter saying his camper van had been photographed travelling at 37mph in a 30mph zone in Bontddu, Mid Wales.
But his future court appearances fall on his religion's Sabbath day.
Mr Lawson is a member of non-denominational Bible church, Ecclesia, and days of worship vary throughout the year.
In December the Sabbath falls on a Tuesday – and that is when Mr Lawson has been summonsed to court. At his first hearing at Mold Magistrates Court on November 12 Mr Lawson said he could not admit the charge.
"I was sent photographs supposedly speeding in Bontddu, Wales, in the direction of Barmouth," he said.
"According to them I was travelling at 37mph in a 30mph zone but I can't agree to that because my campervan's speedometer is in kilometres but I've been told that's no excuse in the eyes of the law.
"I was on the road at that time, yes, but it says I was going in direction of Barmouth."
Mr Lawson said he was travelling in the direction of Telford at the time to take his dog to the vet.
"I said I couldn't admit to have been speeding in the direction of Barmouth as it was a lie," he added.
"They said it didn't matter, it was a technical error or a misprint but I said I'm not going to admit to something which isn't true in a court of law under oath."
A spokesman for Mold Magistrates Court said Mr Lawson would have to write in to change the date of the case but nothing had yet been received.
