AN Exmouth recycling centre worker who admitted driving while over the limit has been told he can keep his licence because of the recession.

AN Exmouth recycling centre worker who admitted driving while over the limit has been told he can keep his licence because of the recession.

Magistrates sitting at Exeter heard how Exmouth CCTV operators spotted Ian Vinson, 43, of Thomas Close, getting into a Vauxhall Cavalier parked outside the KFC takeaway in Imperial Way, and believing him to be drunk called the police.

Vinson, who already had six points on his licence faced an automatic ban.

But, when the court was told Vinson faced losing his job as a Salterton Road recycling centre digger driver, magistrates allowed him to keep his licence saying he was likely to find it difficult to get another job in the current economic climate.

Magistrates fined him �250, ordered him to pay �60 costs and a �15 court surcharge when they heard Vinson was just over the legal drink-drive limit.

Magistrates also gave him a further 10 points, making a total of 16 points.