A DRIVER in Oxfordshire is still on the roads despite racking up 51 penalty points on their licence.

It emerged through a Freedom of Information request lodged by the BBC.

That number of points would normally lead to disqualification but magistrates can choose not to enforce this on 'exceptional' cases.

The Oxford Mail previously revealed there were a number of motorists in the county with 12 or more points on their licences

Tim Williamson, a leading criminal and regulatory lawyer for Oxford firm Blake Morgan, said people should 'bear in mind' that some drivers accumulated points very quickly without realising.

He said: "If, for example, they drive the same route every day for a week and are not aware the cameras are operational, then a motorist could accumulate 30 points in a single week. I have seen this plenty of times.

“There must be an opportunity for courts to scrutinise each case on its merits and consider how automatic punishment would actually affect people and their families – and this opportunity does exist within the legal framework. 

“In my experience magistrates scrutinise such cases very carefully indeed.  

“When facing a ‘totting up’ disqualification motorists should work hard to provide clear evidence about their need for a driving licence, not just for their own benefit but for the benefit of others.

"The courts can and do listen."