A MOTORIST has demanded to know why he faces court for speeding when a leading police officer was let off for the same offence.

Peter Jennings, 57, from Stockton, received a fixed penalty notice for £60 earlier this year after his van was caught speeding in a 30mph zone.

But Mr Jennings, whose wife and daughter are also insured for the Nova van, claims he cannot remember who was driving at the time, after seeing camera footage of the offence.

He said: "I couldn't make out who it was on the camera. The driver had hair and I am going bald.

"Even the policeman said it didn't look like me."

Earlier this month, Detective Superintendent Adrian Roberts, former head of Cleveland's traffic division, escaped a £60 fine and three penalty points by claiming he had forgotten who was driving his car when it was caught speeding on camera.

Now, Mr Jennings, who was served the court summons in April, wants to know why he is being prosecuted when a leading police officer was let off the same offence for the same reason.

He said: "I have had to wait five months for this to go to court, and it has left me badly traumatised. Why couldn't he face the same? They have set a precedent here - why is there one rule for one and one rule for another?"

Mr Jennings is to appear at Teesside Magistrates' court today on two charges - speeding and failing to provide information regarding who was driving at the time. Dave McLuckie, of the Cleveland Police Authority, said that the case showed favouritism towards top police officers. He said: "This shows that there is a two-tier system running. The police have sent out quite a strong message. There appears to be one law for one and one law for another. Police officers are subject to the same laws as any other citizen."