An Exmouth man has been fined after he was caught using his mobile phone while behind the wheel of his white Mercedes-Benz.

William Henry Irwin, of Highview Gardens, committed the offence while driving on the A30 near Exeter on June 23, 2023.

Irwin, 39, admitted the offence under the single justice procedure on February 28, 2024 and was sentenced by a magistrate in Bodmin.

He was fined £169 and ordered to pay a £67 surcharge to fund victim services, plus £90 in court costs.

Irwin has until March 27 to pay his £326 court bill. He also had six points added to his licence.

Court documents say his guilty plea was taken into account when he was sentenced.

What is the single justice procedure?

The single justice procedure allows an individual or company charged with a minor criminal offence to have their case decided by a magistrate without going to court.

Anyone who this applies to will receive a single justice procedure notice when they are charged.

If they do not respond to the notice without 21 days, a magistrate will make a decision about their case – such as finding them or issuing a fine.

If someone pleads guilty, they can choose to attend court or not. 

If they plead not guilty, they be sent a letter telling them when to attend court to give information to magistrates in person.