LORD Romsey has been fined £500 after a milkman was caught speeding in his Broadlands Farms Dairy milk van at almost 50mph. A number of dangerous defects on the van came to light after police stopped milkman Peter Stanley Francis travelling at 48mph at Fishlake Meadows, Romsey, on Saturday November 14 last year, New Forest magistrates heard.

Although 51-year-old Lord Romsey - Norton Philip Louis Knatchbull - of Broadlands House did not appear in court, through a solicitor's fax he accepted responsibility for the poor condition of the milkfloat belonging to the dairy.

In the fax from Southampton-based solicitors Paris, Smith and Randall, he pleaded guilty to committing Francis to use the Leyland Sherpa van with two defective tyres, a nearside door mirror missing, a loose driver's seat and a bumper in a dangerous condition.

The fax read: "As a partner of Broadlands farm he accepts ultimate responsibility.

"New arrangements have been put in place and a new manager has been appointed with direct responsibility for the condition of vehicles and drivers are specifically instructed to check the condition of the vehicle before using them."

Milkman Peter Stanley Francis, 41, of Symonds Close, Chandler's Ford, pleaded guilty to driving at 48mph in a 30mph zone and driving the vehicle with the various defects.

His solicitor Ian Austin said: "He is responsible for the condition of his own van.

"Unfortunately, on that particular day he had to take the spare van.

"If he did not, in all likelihood he would have lost his job.''

Francis, who has worked at the dairy for four years, was fined £140, ordered to pay £45 costs and had seven penalty points placed on his licence.

Lord Romsey also received three penalty points on his licence and was ordered to pay £30 costs. Both Lord Romsey and his solicitor were unavailable for comment after the case.

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