Tony Christie's son dodging driving ban blasted "appalling"

A court's decision to allow singing star Tony Christie's son to remain on the road despite clocking up 25 penalty points was today described as "appalling" by a road safety charity.

Brake is calling on the Government to review exactly what constitutes "exceptional hardship" in such cases. Sean Fitzgerald successfully argued that his driving licence was essential to his livelihood as a touring drummer and was allowed to stay on the road by magistrates in Cannock.

He told the court he could not take his drums on public transport.

The 43-year-old, who was fined £220, is now one of just 20 motorists in the UK with 25 points or more still on the roads after escaping bans.

Fitzgerald, who lives in a gated community near Lichfield city centre, also told the court he did not earn enough to employ a driver.

He said he was struggling to keep up the mortgage repayments on the family home in Kensington Oval, off The Friary, and faced losing it if he were not able to use his car to travel to gigs.

The father-of-three was already on 17 points for speeding, no insurance and failure to provide information when he appealed to the court for leniency.

He was in court this week for another two speeding charges.

Normally drivers who have accumulated a dozen points on their licence face a ban unless they can convince courts it will cause them exceptional hardship.

Brake spokesman Nick Batty said: "It is appalling that anyone that racks up 25 points on their driving licence is not disqualified.

"Driving in excess of the speed limit, failing to have insurance and not providing information when requested all show a flagrant disregard for the law and the safety of all road users."