Human rights plea over driver's name

A retired company director who refuses to reveal who was driving his classic sports car after it was clocked at 47mph in a 30mph zone is to take his case to the European Court after being found guilty by magistrates today.

Whoever was driving the 1938 Alvis Speed 25 as it passed through Guildford was going to stand out but Idris Francis, 62, says that it was not him. Or rather he refuses to say who it was although he is the owner of the car which has been on TV in the Ruth Rendell mysteries and has been driven by Nigel Havers in The Charmer.

Today Mr Francis said to do so could be a breach of the Human Rights Act which gives the individual protection against self-incrimination. He was fined £750 and ordered to pay £250 costs and given three penalty points on his licence by magistrates at Guildford after he admitted the facts of the case but pleaded not guilty to the charge of failing to supply information.