A driver has been handed 42 points on his licence, but has been spared disqualification by magistrates.

Alex McFarlane triggered safety cameras six times between June and August 2014 but each time failed to respond to penalty notices sent by police.

On one occasion a passenger in his car leaned out the window and laughed and waved at the camera as McFarlane passed at 82mph.

The speeding offences were:

  • 109mph and 82mph in a 50mph limit area at Royal Artillery Way, Southend;
  • 69mph and 59mph in a 50 mph zone on the A127 at Rayleigh;
  • 55mph in a 40mph limit area on the A127 at Laindon
  • 32mph in a 20mph limit at Marine Parade, Westcliff.

The seventh offence was driving through a red traffic signal on the A127 at Southend.

McFarlane, 50, a construction site manager, of Wood Green, Basildon, initially pleaded not guilty to all offences.

But he changed his plea to guilty when he appeared at Southend Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

The court heard that since the incidents McFarlane had received treatment for a nervous breakdown which had resulted in a spending spree and heavy debts.

He told the court that if he lost his licence he would lose his job and his home and be unable to pay off his debts.

Magistrates awarded 42 points on his licence (six points for each of the seven offences) and warned him that any further points would result in an instant driving ban.

He was fined £100 for each offence, ordered to pay costs of £50 per offence and told to pay a victim surcharge of £20.

Magistrates allowed him to pay the £1,070 at a rate of £50 a month.

Adam Pipe, the Essex Police casualty reduction manager, said: "The magistrates made it quite clear that if Mr McFarlane is found speeding again he will automatically lose his licence and he could be given a long disqualification.

"We would ask members of the public to let us know if they have concerns about his driving.

"Safety cameras are a vital tool in reducing fatal and serious road collisions and making our roads safer for all users.

"The majority of drivers who are detected speeding admit the offence and opt to go on a national speed awareness course, if eligible, which costs £100.

"In 2014, 3,460 people failed to respond to penalty notices or tried to pervert the course of justice by claiming that other people had been driving and so far this year we currently have 48 active investigations into attempts to pervert the course of justice.

"We are determined to bring offenders to justice and we can use camera and other technology and good old fashioned policing to find people who try to flout the law.

"In a recent case, a man was jailed for four months when he tried a series of tricks to avoid a fine or speed awareness course after he was seen driving at 58mph in a 50mph limit area on the A127 at Rayleigh.

"He gave two false names, two false addresses, information about two fictitious company secretaries and produced a false used car invoice in an attempt to avoid detection. In the end he appeared at Basildon Crown Court where he admitted perverting the course of justice.”