A YOUNG supermarket manager who drove his car at almost twice the speed limit on a Swindon road has been banned from driving for 30 days.

Sebastian David Gillett, 20, of Lismore Road, Highworth, was spotted by police speeding in his Honda Civic on Thamesdown Drive shortly before midnight on July 3 this year.

His speed was recorded as 74mph. The legal limit on Thamesdown Drive is 40mph.

When stopped by police Gillett said he had not been paying attention and had not realised how fast he was going, a police prosecutor told the court.

Gillett, representing himself, admitted the speeding offence and told the court he regretted his actions.

“I have no excuse. I wasn’t paying attention,” he said. “I do understand the consequences of speeding and I was very lucky I didn’t cause and accident.”

He told the bench that he had passed his driving test in September 2015 and was aware that a recent change in the law meant he was at risk of having to revert to L-driver status, depending on the sentence of the court.

He said he worked as a deputy manager at Aldi supermarket in Drove Road, Swindon, and his working hours meant he relied on being able to drive to get to work.

The magistrates disqualified him from driving for 30 days, fined him £230 and ordered him to pay a victim surcharge of £30 and prosecution costs of £85.

He was told by the court’s legal advisor that as his licence had not been endorsed with penalty points he would not have to retake his driving test.