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 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.
His licence has to be taken away before he kills someone, what happens when he’s in court for manslaughter and pleads “Hardship”
My thoughts exactly, someone at the top will be responsible.
An utter joke. It’s not the joke Isle for nothing.
Wouldn’t happen on the mainland where rules are rules.
So if anyone gets caught offending just plead exceptional
hardship and get to offend again and again.
WHAT HAPPENED TO 12 POINTS AND YOU’RE BANNED!
Like99% of the law, it doesn’t seem to count anymore.
So true, look what is going on in Piddington.
The country is in a right old state!
Utter nonsense.
There are over 11,000 drivers around the UK with 12 or more points on their license.
Whether we like it or not (and many, myself included do not) drivers have the right to explain their circumstances and in certain, clearly defined situations Magistrates can allow them to continue to drive.
It does indeed make a mockery of the totting-up system, but somewhere our moronic lawmakers decided that some people are not to be held to the same level of civic responsibility as others.
We live in a world where guilty parties might as well just
do a runner, if then caught deny it was them and if having to
answer a question, answer with NO COMMENT!
Robert Peel would be turning in his grave if he saw what has
become of law and order thesedays in once great Blighty!
I agree that a guy who died in 1850 would indeed be startled by the motoring crimes of the 21st century.
He’d likely though be delighted by the vastly reduced homicide rate.
“Wouldn’t happen on the mainland where rules are rules.”
you do seem to have a very rose-tinted (and fundamentally wrong) view of the mainland….
if its that good there, and so bad here,. why are you still here..
(or is it just fictional fantasy in your head?? )
The mainland do have 20mph, that ain’t fictional
or a fantasy.
There are also 20mph zones here on the Island.
The limit isn’t the issue. Enforcement is.
But whenever enforcement activity does occur, there is always some dick asking “why don’t you go and catch real criminals?”
Perhaps more speed cameras is the answer to target those with a cavalier attitude to public safety?
Zones don’t do anything, in the Big Smoke
20mph zones are “ENFORCED” no pussy footing around
under Khan’s watch.
We need Camera’s and HEAVY fines, it is the only way
to slow motorists down.
Beggars belief. Take this uninsured person off the road, sell the silver Range Rover and pay for taxis with it. You can use a mobile as a passenger.
Once again magistrates show their incompetence, how long be another offence will be committed?
Actions have consequences, unless you are on the Island it appears.
Could sell the car and get a bike!
That is why the island needs to be led by the mainland.
Mainland rules, not what happens on the island stays on the
Island..
IT IS NOT VEGAS!
12 points in the United Kingdom = A BAN
is the Isle of Wight not in the United Kingdom!
It does make one wonder.
Most of the residents on the Isle of Wight can claim hardship under this Government especially pensioners. What with the shortage of prison spaces there is no deterent any more.
No shortage of prison space on the Island., there is one lying empty in Newport
Glad they caught him, how about these 2 cars though, HW56 FFG, black nissan micra, SORN but being driven about, and HW60 KCE, blue mazda, no tax or MOT being driven about… I could list a whole lot more too, doesn’t take long to check a cars status online. if caught the cars should be seized and crushed. Seeing as prison is no deterrent anymore, getting the precious illegal motor crushed might be.. Here is the link to check any car if you don’t know it.. https://vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk/
No one bothers, many vehicles clearly drive around the island
with no front number plates on them.
I wonder what would happen if everyone drove around with no
number plates.
NO PARKING FINES ETC ETC