A Silsden motorist caught speeding in his Mini Cooper on the A59 at Kex Gill was ordered to pay £470 in fines and costs by Skipton magistrates.

Andrew Gardner, 47, was stopped by a police officer, who recorded him doing 86mph on the 60mph road between Harrogate and Skipton just before 2pm on June 7.

Gardner, whose letter pleading guilty to speeding was read out in court on Friday, raised points from the officer’s statement, including the description of the A59 as a motorway and the use of ‘her’ to describe him. He further questioned the accuracy of the speed detection device.

But magistrates accepted his guilty plea and fined him £370, endorsing his licence with five penalty points.

Gardner, of Glaisdale Close, was also ordered to pay £85 costs.