A MAN who was caught speeding at more than 100mph on the A35 Upton Bypass has been banned from driving for six months after failing to convince magistrates that the ban would cause him “exceptional hardship”.

Jose Juan Vera Martinez drove a BMW on the dual carriageway at 104mph in a 70mph zone on June 25 last year.

The 42-year-old appeared before Poole Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, January 21, where he admitted a single charge of speeding.

The bench endorsed his driving licence with six points, taking the total on his driving record to 15 – greater than the 12-point threshold to trigger a totting up disqualification.

Martinez told the court through a translator that he needed to be able to drive so he could continue to work as a cleaner at a school in Bovington.

The defendant also told the court that he drove to see his 11-year-old son in Swanage at least four times a month.

Detailing the speeding offence last June, prosecutor Richard Oakley said: “The speed limit was 70mph.

“On June 25, the defendant drove a BMW at a speed registered at 104mph.

“He was stopped at the time and he said that he was rushing to help his friend’s sick child.”

Magistrates were told that Martinez had previous endorsements on his licence from November 2017 and February 2020.

While the former has now expired, the points were still valid at the time of the Upton Bypass speeding incident and therefore crossed the totting up disqualification point.

Martinez, of Rodwell Street, Weymouth, was given the opportunity to express why a driving ban would cause “exceptional hardship” to himself and those close to him.

He said he would no longer be able to do his cleaning job, but, after questioning from Mr Oakley, he said he would be able to use public transport to see his son.

Referencing the speeding incident, he said: “I lost my concentration. I did a manoeuvre that was very strong.

“An acceleration to go past four or five cars.”

Magistrate Nigel Dedman told the defendant that this latest offence followed several similar incidents and he had failed to convince the bench that a driving ban would lead to exceptional hardship.

Alongside the disqualification, Martinez was fined £184 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £34 victim surcharge.