FIVE motorists have been prosecuted in court for illegally crossing double-white lines on the North Devon Link Road.

In July, the Journal published shocking photos of drivers who had driven across the white lines while overtaking. Now motorists who committed the same offence have faced punishment.

The motorists were caught on April 8 this year when officers were monitoring the traffic from the Johnston Moors Bridge, near South Molton.

The bridge looks over the stretch of road between the Pathfields Business Park entrance and the Bish Mill roundabout. Here are those who were prosecuted:

● Victor Dartnall, 61, from Charles in Brayford, pleaded guilty to the offence.

Prosecutor Ben Winzer said he drove his blue BMW for about 60 to 80m along the white lines.

He was given three penalty points on his licence, fined £133, and ordered to pay £60 costs.

● David Hammond, 42, of Struston Mead in Ipswich, also pleaded guilty to the offence.

The court heard he had driven an Audi estate car between 80 to 100m along the white lines.

Mr Winzer said he had only begun his overtake at the time the final arrow points to the traffic to move back into a single lane.

In mitigation, which was read to the court by the clerk, Hammond put the offence down to misjudgement and not knowing the road.

He was given three penalty points, fined £317 and ordered to pay £60 costs.

● Sharon Keirman, 39, of St Edmunds Road in Torquay, was driving a white Mercedes Sprinter Box van when she drove an estimated 80 to 100m along the double white lines.

Mr Winzer said Keirman, who pleaded guilty to the offence, had almost all her four wheels over the double white lines.

In mitigation, which was read to the court, Keirman said she made a "split second judgement" and was sorry for her behaviour.

She was given three penalty points, fined £83 and ordered to pay £60 costs.

● Karl Richards, 18, who lives at the Royal Air Force site in Barry, Wales, was found guilty in his absence of driving over the white lines in his black Renault Laguna.

The court heard Richards had all four wheels on the white area when he was caught.

Mr Winzer said he drove an estimated 130 to 150m over the lines before he returned to the carriageway.

He was also awarded three penalty points, fined £175 and ordered to pay £85 costs.

● Clifford Russell, 56, of Princes Road West in Torquay, also pleaded guilty to driving over the white lines in his Vauxhall motor van.

He was given three penalty points, fined £100 and ordered to pay £60 costs.

All the defendants were also made to pay a £15 victim surcharge.