A TOWN lorry driver was fined £700 with £200 costs after being accused of putting himself and other road users at risk by driving too long without a break.

When challenged by a Vehicle Inspectorate officer about his driving, Bernard Harber said: "I've been stupid."

Harber, aged 58, of Corbett Close, Aston Fields, Bromsgrove, admitted seven charges of driving without having sufficient rest, three of failing to keep his driving records and two of making a false entry on the lorry's tachograph. The driver appeared before Stratford-upon-Avon Magistrates court.

Miss Helen Bradin, prosecuting for the Vehicle Inspectorate, told magistrates that Harber's offences came to light during tachographs checks at the haulage firm of Jon Lewis Transport Ltd, Alcester, where Harber had worked for more than three years. The tachograph records the driving time and mileage of lorries.

"The law states that lorry drivers should not drive for more than four and a half hours without taking a 45 minute rest," said Miss Bradin.

"This is to counter drivers falling asleep at the wheel and causing accidents.

"In the defendant's case he exceeded his driving time on seven occasions, made false entries on the tachograph and failed to keep records by taking the tachograph card out.

"As a result he put himself and road users at risk."

Miss Bradin said that when challenged Harber admitted he had been stupid. He said he had got confused about driving times while making multi-deliveries. Harber said in court that on one occasion he drove for longer than permitted looking for a parking spot because he was not allowed to park at Safeway after making a delivery.