A MAN who was caught speeding at nearly 100mph on the A12 was spared a driving ban yesterday - despite a previous speeding offence.James Mayhew, 20, was travelling to a football match on December 28 last year when he was caught travelling at 98mph by a police officer in Ufford, near Woodbridge.

A MAN who was caught speeding at nearly 100mph on the A12 was spared a driving ban yesterday - despite a previous speeding offence.

James Mayhew, 20, was travelling to a football match on December 28 last year when he was caught travelling at 98mph by a police officer in Ufford, near Woodbridge.

South East Suffolk Magistrates Court in Ipswich yesterdayheard that Mayhew already had six penalty points on his licence - three of those points were following a speeding offence last year.

In court yesterdayMayhew, from Mill Lane in Felixstowe, pleaded guilty.

He was given a further five penalty points - taking the total on his licence to 11, one point away from a ban.

Before sentence was passed, he told the court he had learned his lesson

“I was going to a football match with a car load of people,” he said. “I was in the wrong and guilty of speeding.

“Being this close to losing my licence it has made me understand that I cannot afford to lose my licence. I love driving and need my car for my work.”

Mayhew's father also addressed the court and told how he had “seen a change” in his son since the incident.

Chairman of the bench, Mr John Goodship told Mayhew: “You must realise that 98mph is extraordinarily dangerous, not just to you but the passengers in your car and the other people on the road.”

Mr Goodship said he took into account Mayhew's guilty plea and the fact that he has a steady job with a company who want him to continue working.

As well as the five penalty points, Mayhew was also told he had to pay �246 in fines and costs.