A Porsche driver got away with speeding despite being twice over the limit - because banning her from driving could affect the production of Covid-19 vaccines.
Helen O’Callaghan, 44, was caught on a speed camera driving at 57mph in a 30mph zone - but was allowed to keep her licence due to mitigating circumstances.
She was fined £660 for the offence, ordered to pay £156 costs, and was also given points on her licence.
But Ms O'Callaghan was allowed to keep her licence because her job is linked to the production of the AstraZeneca vaccine, and banning her could had an adverse affect on provision of the drug.
The driver, from Birmingham, pleaded guilty to breaking the speed limit in a 30mph zone on February 24, 2020 on Watlington Road, Oxfordshire, at High Wycombe Magistrates Court.
She was fined and issued with six points on her license but a note on a document from the court stated that she was allowed to keep driving because of the impact a ban could have on the production of the AstraZeneca jab.
The note stated: “Mitigating circumstances: bench find exceptional hardship – it is a condition of Ms O’Callaghan’s employment and in the current circumstances, if she were to be disqualified, it could adversely affect production of the AstraZeneca vaccine.”
The vaccine, produced jointly by Oxford University and AstraZeneca, is one of a handful approved for use in the UK.
So far, more than 35 million people around the country have received the vaccine.
