Dad Tells Judges He's Too Broke To Afford Taxis But Refuses To Sell £37k BMW

A company director caught driving at 119mph in his brand new BMW has claimed he won't be able to afford taxis if he's banned from the road - but refuses to sell his luxury wheels.

Dean Crawford faced disqualification under the totting up procedure after he was clocked speeding last November in his M135i XDrive Auto on the M58 Westbound near Skelmersdale, Lancashire - having already racked up nine points on his licence.

The 42-year-old - who is the director of three companies - has refused pleas to sell his car, instead claiming 'exceptional hardship', arguing he needs the BMW as he is on benefits and could not afford to pay for taxis to get to the gym, as well as visits to see his mother and daughter.

In court, prosecutor Matt Routly said: ''You still have that BMW. You could sell that and that would raise quite a lot of funds?

''It could pay for quite a lot of taxis and buy you a bicycle. That's very often the price people have to pay when they speed all the time."

Crawford - who has previously had a Mercedes AMG and an Audi - told the court he suffered various health issues, and said he was temporarily paralysed for a year after being stabbed in the spine in 2014.

After a period of physiotherapy, he has since recovered the use of his legs but said he can't walk far and still requires daily trips to the gym both for his physical condition and to help his mental health.

When asked why he could not simply sell his car he replied: "A driving ban would run out after six months and then I would not have a car. I am not working.

"I am on benefit for people with medical conditions."

He said he was getting £975 per month but had to pay £345 of that in rent and when asked about getting to the gym, he said: "It's in the middle of nowhere on an industrial estate.

"I would have to a get a taxi to the bus stop and then a bus and then the same on the way back. I would only be able to do that once a week because of the price."

When asked about using trains and buses to see his mum who lives in Blackley, Manchester, he said: "I would take taxis, trains and buses. I could probably only afford to go once a week."

He added that he wouldn't be able to see his daughter, as it would require multiple trains and taxis. 

He confirmed he ran a business, but said he'd had a breakdown during lockdown and claimed the only thing he now owns is his BMW.

Denying Crawford's pleas, the magistrates banned Crawford from driving for six months, fined him £120 and made him pay £136 in costs and victim surcharge.

"We have considered everything very carefully," chair of the bench Christina Hills, said.

"We do not think there's sufficient grounds on this occasion to grant a non-application of the disqualification rules on the exceptional hardship basis.''

Crawford is now planning to appeal against the ban to a crown court judge.

The period of disqualification was suspended pending the forthcoming hearing.