When Councillor Sandra Samuels was caught speeding in her Porsche along a Black Country road, she was determined to protest her innocence in court.

But after being confronted with photographic evidence from a roadside camera, the Wolverhampton Labour councillor pleaded guilty minutes before her trial could get under way. The 51-year-old, an operating theatre sister at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, was snapped driving her K-reg Porsche 911 Carrera at 43mph in a 30mph zone.

This happened on the A41 Birmingham Road in West Bromwich, near to Sandwell Park Golf Course.

The case had been listed for a trial after she disputed the speed limit along the stretch of road. She had also faced a second charge of failing to identify the driver of the sports car after sending back the necessary forms 65 days later than the 28-day deadline, but this was withdraw by the Crown Prosecution Service following her guilty plea to speeding.

Samuels, of Needwood Close, Penn, who represents Ettingshall, triggered the camera at around 6.30pm on September 21 last year.

West Bromwich Magistrates Court was told it was her second speeding offence within three years.

She said: “I’ve travelled the A41 previously and was under the impression it was a 40mph limit. I’ve broken the law and for that I am truly sorry.”

Mrs Sarah Cooper, prosecuting, requested costs of £100 be recovered as the guilty plea had only been entered on the day a trial.

Magistrates ordered her to pay a fine of £265, costs of £100 and a victim surcharge of £15 and also endorsed her licence with four points.