A magistrate who racked up 17 penalty points for five separate speeding offences and was disqualified from driving has been issued with a formal warning for misconduct.

Speed camera

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Laurence Davis was disqualified from driving for six months after accruing 17 penalty points on his driving licence. His bench chair referred the matter to the South West Region Conduct Advisory Committee for investigation.

Davis apologised and accepted he had breached the code of conduct expected of a magistrate.

In a statement, the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO) said: ‘The guide to judicial conduct states that judicial office holders should show respect for, and observance of the law.’

It added that Davis offered personal mitigation for the latter two speeding offences which had taken place in ‘quick succession’ during the Covid pandemic. The JCIO added: ‘He confirmed that he has put measures in place to ensure that it does not happen again.’

Following an investigation, a conduct panel took ‘a serious view’ of the number of driving offences committed by Davis throughout his time as a magistrate as well as his six-month driving disqualification.

The panel found Davis’ actions amounted to serious misconduct.

The JCIO said: ‘Mr Justice Keehan and the lord chancellor agreed with the conduct panel’s finding and issued Mr Davis with a formal warning.’