THE son of a woman who helped overturn speeding fines for more than 4,000 people has been ordered to pay more than £4,000 in costs after he was found guilty of speeding.

Max Allison-Wright, 25, of London Road, Amesbury, has vowed to fight the decision by Judge Simon Cooper at Salisbury Magistrates Court on Thursday to fine him £125 and put three points on his licence for speeding on the A303 Wylye Bypass in January 11, 2006.

He was ordered to pay £2,000 costs for the prosecution due to the length of time spent on the case, and £2,210 to cover the expenses of the prosecution’s expert witness.

Allison-Wright was recorded doing 80mph in a 70mph limit by a police van carrying out checks on the A303.

Tim Williamson, defending, said Allison- Wright was not speeding and the speed-checking device must have been misaligned, producing a reading from something other than his car.

Allison-Wright said “I certainly didn’t believe I was speeding, that’s the view I have had all along.”

But PC Michael Rose told the court he carried out the appropriate checks on the machine, both at the base and site, and was satisfied it was working correctly.

Mr Williamson also maintained the police van should not have been parked in the spot it was as it could create a distraction to drivers and an obstacle to pedestrians.

Andrew Perry, prosecuting, said the van had permission to park there and there was no legislation which said the speed check would be illegal even if the van had been parked illegally.

Sentencing Allison-Wright, Judge Cooper said: “It was not a bad offence of speeding, there were no aggravating features. Despite what you have been advised, yours was a hopeless technical defence, which was destined to fail in this court. It seems like a rolling stone which has gathered a fair amount of moss.”

Speaking after the trial, Allison-Wright said: “I’m still in shock about it all. I’ve never had any points or speeding fines in seven years of driving and I drive about 40,000 miles a year.”

He is planning to appeal against the court’s decision and is also taking thecase to judicial review as an application to move the trial out of Wiltshire was refused.

Allison-Wright felt he could not get a fair trial in Wiltshire because of who his mother is.

Clair Allison was caught speeding on the A303 at Folly Bottom in December 2003 and fought the case on the grounds that the 70mph limit on the road had been temporarily reduced to 40mph but was badly signposted.

The case was dismissed due to lack of evidence.

She launched a campaign to find others affected and caused the Safety Camera Partnership to overturn fines for more than 4,000 people and pay out hundreds of thousands in compensation.