A TRUCKER was clocked driving his car at 125mph along one of Cumbria’s busiest roads.

The terrifying speed hit by Adam Tinkler was described as “stupid” and “foolish” by his own solicitor.

The 21-year-old, a professional driver for Stobart Energy, was banned from driving for 56 days by magistrates in Carlisle.

His conviction has been welcomed by road safety campaigners who hope it will serve as a warning to others tempted to drive at such dangerous speeds.

Tinkler, of Calthwaite, near Carlisle, was caught speeding while behind the wheel of an Audi car on the A66. He pleaded guilty to speeding.

John Moran, prosecuting, said it was 11.36am on January 31 last year when Tinkler was snared while 55mph over the speed limit on the Appleby bypass.

Mr Moran told magistrates that their sentencing guidelines for such offences on 70mph roads only covered speeds up to 110mph.

“125 actually takes you out of the top category,” he confirmed.

Tinkler had been due to stand trial on the allegation.

But having been shown irrefutable evidence of the crime, he admitted his guilt, magistrates heard.

Lisa Judge, for Tinkler, said her client was initially keen to verify the “integrity, accuracy and reliability” of the reading recorded by police.

“Once the defendant was shown the evidence there was no prevarication whatsoever. He conceded that was the speed he was travelling at,” she said.

“He was utterly astonished that was the reading they had found.”

Miss Judge confirmed Tinkler was a professional driver. He had secured an LGV licence and covered about 300km a week through his work.

Tinkler had three points already on his licence for mobile phone use and was fearful of a driving ban.

It was stated there were concerns about the viability of his employer keeping him on should he be banned from driving.

“For this stupid, foolish act of driving there is a potential this man might lose his livelihood,” said Miss Judge.

Tinkler was given a 56-day driving ban for the speeding offence. Magistrates handed him a £400 fine and ordered him to pay £800 costs and a £40 victim surcharge.

Speaking afterwards, Anthony Nicholson, Cumbria Constabulary’s safety camera team leader, said: “I am pleased with the driving ban and substantial fine handed down by the courts and I would hope that this sentence will deter other drivers from exceeding the speed limit at such high and dangerous levels.”

Another campainger, Lynette Francis, of Shap, also welcomed the ban.

“Did he realise the risks? Has he ever met anyone who has lost somebody on the roads, is he remorseful for what has happened?,” she added.

Mrs Francis’ son Mark died in 2002, aged 19, when his car, being driven by a friend, crashed near Appleby. Since the tragedy, she has worked to warn young Cumbrians about the dangers they face on the county’s road and praised the work police and the fire service have done to educate people.