A DRIVER who was travelling almost double the speed limit on the Dorset Way has lost his licence and been fined more than £1,000.

Daniel Matthews, aged 48, of Wellington Road, Bournemouth, appeared at Poole Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

He was caught driving his Audi on the A3049 Dorset Way on September 7 last year at 96mph – the speed limit is 50mph.

Matthews was due to stand trail for the offence on Thursday but he pleaded guilty on the day.

He was disqualified from driving for 56 days and ordered to pay a £720 fine. He was also ordered to pay £300 court costs and a £72 victim surcharge.

Just last month officers from Dorset Police welcomed the introduction of harsher penalties for drivers who speed.

Under new sentencing guidelines for magistrates the new penalties will be for drivers responsible for the most serious speeding offences.

It will see motorists caught going well above the speed limit fined 150 per cent of their weekly income rather than the existing level of 100 per cent.

It means, for example, someone who is sentenced for driving at 101mph or faster in a 70mph zone will now be dealt with in a more severe bracket.

The new penalty will be introduced from April 24 this year.