An Isle of Wight businessman has been allowed to remain on the roads after receiving an additional 12 points to his already 6-point-heavy licence, after pleading exceptional hardship to Magistrates.
Neil Lilley, 54, of West Street in Godshill, appeared before the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court on Tuesday for 4 driving offences, 3 of which date back some 2-and-a-half years.
It was on 3rd February 2024 that Lilley was caught driving a Ford Transit Flatbed without third-party insurance or an MOT, and was also carrying an unsafe load likely to cause danger to any person in the vehicle or on the road.
The defendant was pulled over on Coppins Bridge in Newport by PC Bull, as the vehicle came up as having an expired MOT. Following the stop, a number of issues arose. Metal objects were found rolling around in the back of the flatbed transit, and it was found that Lilley did not hold valid insurance to drive the commercial vehicle.
On 17th August 2025, Lilley, who already has 6 points on his licence for previous offences, was caught talking on his mobile phone whilst driving along Blackwater Road.
The court heard from prosecutor Tara Olney that at around 11:00 on the Sunday morning, a police officer was parked in a lay-by in Blackwater watching the traffic pass; it was at this time that Lilley drove past in his Silver Land Rover Discovery with his mobile phone clearly positioned on his ear.
Lilley told the court that he did hold valid insurance in the form of a trader’s policy. He admitted that he was holding his mobile phone, but claimed that the screen was not even illuminated. It was said that video footage had been requested; however was not acquired by the time his sentencing came around.
The 54-year-old, who chose to represent himself, then took to the stand to present his case, putting forward a exceptional hardship claim as a driving ban would result in the ‘complete ruin of his livelihood’.
Lilley, who owns NDL Event Power Solutions, explained he is a self-employed electrical contractor who provides specialist services to events all over the Isle of Wight. Lilley went on to explain that this coming weekend he has 3 events, including a wedding, that he has been booked for. He told the court that as a micro-business, he does not have another employee that can ‘chauffeur’ him around, and if he were to hire someone to do that job, it would ‘ruin’ him.
The court heard how the recently divorced single dad of 2 is struggling financially and works 15+ hour days, 7 days a week in an attempt to make ends meet. It was also said that arrears relating to his mortgage meant that any downward turn in earnings could potentially lead him to lose his home.
Lilley said:
“I appreciate what’s been said, but I am careful; I do probably 20-30,000 miles a year.
“It’s been an accumulation of sods law”.
The company director explained he has 3 employees; 1 of whom is a subcontractor who helps out during the busy summer period, one other is his son who is too young to drive, and the other has learning difficulties and so cannot drive.
Before retiring to consider their sentence, Magistrates told Lilley:
“The fact is, you had 6 points already.”
Despite this known fact, the bench of 3 Magistrates decided that the impact a disqualification would have on Neil Lilley’s businesses, home and employees was too great and therefore exceptional hardship was granted.
Neil Lilley was fined £2,190 and was handed 6 points for the insurance charge, as well as 6 for the phone charge; however, due to exceptional circumstances, no totting of the points was imposed.
He now has 18 points on his licence.
