Justin Lee Collins failed to attend a court hearing on Monday before pleading guilty by post.

The well-known comedian, 38, was caught speeding on a motorway in Gloucestershire in his Mini cooper, resulting in him being hit with a £327 bill for the offence, which happened on September 28 last year.

He pleaded guilty to driving the vehicle at 76mph on the M5 motorway, when subject to a 50mph limit.   However, he failed to stand trial at Bath Magistrates’ Court in Somerset, instead he pleaded guilty by post which then led him being ordered to pay out a £266 fine, a £26 victim surcharge and £35 in costs, along with six penalty points.

The court was told that he initially pleaded not guilty to the offence but then changed his plea to guilty.   Peter Norris, chairman of magistrates, said: “For this offence we take into account the guilty plea.”   The court was also told that Collins was asked to provide a statement of means but did not.

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Neighbours and police in Cedar Road and Christchurch were joined by Sutton South Councillor, Tony Shields, during a speed watch operation last week after concerns about the speed of traffic in the area.

The group took part whilst equipped with a speed gun in which they were trained how to use, on the look out for anyone committing a recognisable motoring offence.

They found out most culprits were actually from the surrounding area.

Several drivers in the area were spotted travelling at 30ph on Cedar Road even though the speed limit was 20mph.

However, no drivers were spotted not wearing a seatbelt or talking on their phones.

Although the speeding drivers were not prosecuted, they are expected to receive letters telling them that they were noticed.

PC Mark Towler said: “It appeared that many of the speeding drivers were local residents. All residents need to be aware that other roads in this area like Langley Park Road and Cavendish Road also have 20mph restrictions.”

Sergeant Geraldine Costello said more signs will be installed in the area, to make sure people know the limit and don’t forget about it, either.

A 23 year old male has been described as a menace to pedestrians in Southampton due to repeatedly being caught speeding 15 times in the space of just two months and has finally been forced off the road.

He failed to show up for his trial last August, forcing Magistrates in Southampton to hear the case against him in his absence.

The law-breaker went through a pair of speed cameras in St Mary’s Avenue and Kingsway in Southampton 14 times between March 7 and April 30, 2012.

On each occasion, Dean Stockwell was travelling between 40mph and 55mph in a 30mph zone on his motorbike. However, the man was able to break the law continuously because his front number plate was missing, revealed by images taken on forward-facing cameras.

Nevertheless, officers finally caught up with him on the 4th of May last year when he was found speeding yet again at 45mph on the A335 Leigh Road in Eastleigh.

The reckless biker has been fined a sum of £180, but has also been ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £15 as well as being banned from driving for a year.

His careless actions led to him being forced to take a test before his license is to be returned, but stronger sentences have been recommended for drivers and motorcyclists who repeatedly offend or put lives in danger on multiple occasions.