Two men who denied driving a speeding car have both been prosecuted.

A BMW 520d activated a speed camera on the A127 in Laindon because it was travelling at 48mph in a 40mph zone on November 23, 2017.

Letters and reminders were sent to the registered owner, Darryl Pounds, asking him to confirm who was driving.

He asked for photographs but said he couldn’t be sure if it was him or Stephen Burke driving.

Burke also told officers he wasn’t sure if it was him or Pounds driving.

Notices were sent to both men explaining they would be prosecuted for speeding and failing to give information to identify the driver.

Both declined to fill in the forms.

Pounds, 44, of Chelmsford Road, Blackmore, denied both charges and stood trial at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on October 11. He was found not guilty of speeding but guilty of failing to give information to identify the driver. He was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £600 costs and a £100 victim surcharge.

He was also given six penalty points on his driving licence.

Burke, 42, of Tyle Green, Hornchurch, appeared at the same court on October 11. He admitted speeding and was fined £385 and ordered to pay £90 costs and a £30 victim surcharge. The charge for failing to give information to identify the driver was withdrawn.

He was also given three penalty points.

Michael Lucas, from Essex Police's casualty reduction investigation team, said: “If Burke was the driver and had told us this within 28 days of receiving the notice, he would have been offered the chance to take a speed awareness course if he was eligible for one.

“This would have avoided the need to go to court and he wouldn’t have received any penalty points.

“Pounds could also have avoided court had he given the information he was asked for.”